By The Numbers: Sue Bird returning for WNBA-record 19th season

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Future Hall of Famer Sue Bird is returning for the 2022 WNBA season.

Bird, 41, took to Instagram to marque the announcement, sharing a video of Seattle fans' "one much year" chant from erstwhile the Storm were eliminated from the 2021 playoffs on with the caption "Ok… Let's gooooo"

It's worthy noting that the determination of Bird's station is tagged as Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle's marque caller amusement venue, which opened astatine the commencement of the 2021-22 NHL play for the enlargement Seattle Kraken.

While technically a escaped agent, Bird volition apt instrumentality to the Storm for her 19th season.

During an October quality connected ESPN's Monday Night Football "Manningcast," Bird was asked astir returning for different season, to which she responded "we conscionable opened a caller arena present successful Seattle, and I happened to beryllium successful determination for the opening of the Kraken game. And ... it was tempting. The thoughts of playing determination were precise tempting. I'll permission you with that." 

The No. 1 prime successful the 2002 WNBA Draft, Bird is 1 of the astir decorated players successful the past of the game. A 12-time All-Star, Bird has been a portion of 4 WNBA titles, which lone begins the database of her countless accomplishments implicit the past 20 years.

By The Numbers: Sue Bird's grounds 19th season

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549 games: Bird is the league's all-time person successful games played and, entering the 2022 season, is the lone WNBA subordinate to person appeared successful implicit 500 games.

17,262 minutes:  It shouldn't travel arsenic a astonishment that Bird is besides archetypal all-time in minutes played, having logged implicit 1,000 much minutes than second-place Tina Thompson.

3,048 assists: The modular of exemplary defender play, nary WNBA subordinate has dished retired much assists than Bird, who has won 3 assists titles.

945 3-pointers: Diana Taurasi (1,205) is the lone subordinate successful league past to person drained much triples than Bird, who stands to go the 2nd subordinate successful league past with implicit 1,000 made 3s.

19 seasons: No different subordinate has suited up for arsenic galore seasons arsenic Bird.

12 All-Star selections: Bird's 12 All-Star appearances fertile archetypal successful league history, up of Tamika Catchings (10) and Taurasi (10)

5 Olympic golden medals: Bird has been a subordinate of the United States Senior Women's National Team since 2004, winning golden medals successful Athens, Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo. 

4 WNBA championships: Bird is tied with Seimone Augustus, Cynthia Cooper, Maya Moore, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson arsenic the all-time person with 4 titles.

4 FIBA World Cup gold medals: No different player — antheral oregon female — has won arsenic galore golden medals astatine the FIBA World Cup.

1 much year