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Sue Bird

Date of Birth: October 16, 1980
School: Connecticut '02
Position: Guard
Height: 5-9
Weight: 150 lbs.
WNBA Team: Seattle Storm

She entered USA Basketball just four years ago and already she owns a FIBA World Championship gold medal and is hoping to add an Olympic gold to her collection.

Following on the heels of her senior season at the University of Connecticut, Bird joined in on the final two days of the 2002 USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team spring training in Colorado Springs. The next thing Bird knew, she was a member of the USA national team that would eventually claim gold at the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

She then helped the USA win the Australia-hosted Opals World Challenge title prior to arriving in China for the FIBA World Championship. Playing back-up to two-time Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley and eventual ‘02 All-Worlds selection Shannon Johnson, Bird averaged 3.3 ppg. in Australia and upped that to 4.3 ppg., the U.S. finished 9-0 in capturing the ‘02 Worlds gold medal.

Her first foray into international basketball came as a member of the 2000 USA R. William Jones Cup Team that posted a perfect 4-0 record in Taipei, Taiwan, and earned the gold medal. The 5-9 guard returned less than two months later as a member of the 2000 USA Basketball Select Team that competed against the eventual gold medal winning 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in an exhibition contest in front of a nationally televised audience.
Bird attended Christ The King H.S. (N.Y.), where she was the MVP of the 1998 New York State tournament, and also led her squad to a 27-0 record and the USA Today national championship.

She beat out Sonics guard and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Ray Allen, the runner-up, Payton, Lance Armstrong, Mia Hamm and Marion Jones.
She spent the 2003-04 off-season helping to coach a team comprised of eighth-graders in a Bay Area youth league.