Sue Bird

Following a historic career that spanned three decades, WNBA player Sue Bird retired from the game in 2022. The WNBA’s all-time assists leader is a seasoned veteran who is one of seven women to win an Olympic gold medal in basketball (she’s won five), a FIBA World Championship gold medal (she’s won four) and a WNBA championship (she’s won four—the last just weeks before her 40th birthday).

She is a sharp, driven and encouraging leader on and off the basketball court. She’s appeared on the cover of InStyle Magazine with fiancé and U.S. Women’s National Team captain Megan Rapinoe (who also appeared as the first openly gay women to pose in SI Swimsuit). In 2021, Bird founded Togethxr—a woman-centered media group—alongside three influential women athletes to further the progress, culture, representation, and coverage of all women and girls in sport. A fierce advocate for Black Lives Matter, equality, health and wellness and expanding opportunities for girls and all marginalized people, Bird is a trailblazer and made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2022.