Today’s women’s basketball fans have seen how Iowa’s sensation Caitlin Clark impacted the game. The sold-out arenas, whether it was a home or a road game, the pressure of fulfilling expectations, and, of course, the need to win a title. However, almost two decades before her, Geno Auriemma had already set a similar standard for UConn as well. A generation where Sue Bird got to play. But how did an injury almost take away the chance of her being the WNBA legend that she is today?

While talking to Hank Green of Study Hall, Sue Bird opened up about her torn ACL. She said, “The hard part about the injury was I was worried that my career never even got to start. That was really how I remember feeling. I only played in eight games. I was like ‘I didn’t even get to do it yet.'” However, the 2002 first-overall pick remembered how she got over it.

“But very quickly, something that I’ve learned from sports that plays out in school. That I also learned from school that plays out in sports is preparation,” Bird revealed.

Sue Bird had already played over 20% of the games for the Huskies. Hence, she was not able to redshirt her freshman season. Still, the point guard prepared for the next season when she could do much better. Indeed, she led the team to a 36-1 record, the Big East Conference title, and the NCAA DI WBB title.

Certainly, she has learned a lot from her experiences. One such lesson is about playing under pressure, which many might relate to Iowa’s Caitlin Clark as well.

Sue Bird and her life as a Husky

Under head coach Geno Auriemma, UConn has seen massive success in its women’s basketball program. In fact, before Sue Bird even went there, the Storrs-located college had already won a National Championship and been in the Final Four and Elite Eight a total of 8 times. They were all the hype in the Big East Conference as well. Auriemma had led the Huskies to 6 conference titles and 7 regular season titles before Bird. Hence, it is safe to say that Sue Bird was entering a school that people throughout the nation knew.

Understanding the worth and taking it as a lesson, Sue Bird mentioned, “You go to college to learn. That’s a life lesson right there.” The 2x National Champion elaborated, “Playing in front of sold-out arenas, having pressure on you. Understanding what it takes to be a top athlete, to play to your potential every single game while the world is watching. I learned so much from that experience. And it was a big deal. We were big deals on campus, for sure.”

UConn welcomed over 10,000 fans in its home arena, Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. The same was the scene with their other location, XL Center, where they welcomed over 15,000 fans. With the high popularity, it meant that the seats would be sold out no matter what game the Huskies played. Certainly, quite a similar path as Caitlin Clark, who in her junior and senior year as a Hawkeye, brought in many eyes and grew the entire sport. That’s why her legendary head coach Lisa Bluder said, “She has a heavy crown.”

The Des Moines native too achieved great success, breaking records right and left. Now, while Sue Bird has left the WNBA, Caitlin Clark, as a rookie, has her eyes set on many records that the 4x WNBA champion has set. In fact, the Indiana Fever guard has already left Bird behind on the list of most assists by a rookie. The two are close friends now and Caitlin Clark even calls Sue Bird “her homie.” It is truly delightful to see how, while their paths never crossed, their destinies are somehow intertwined.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.