“There’s No Longer a Sue Bird”: 43 YO Veteran’s Absence Can Be Filled by Iconic Duo A’ja Wilson & Breanna Stewart, Says Cheryl Reeve

Every time, Team USA brings out their elite talents to the floor for the grandest stage in sports. The sad part about new faces coming in is that the veterans have to bid adieu. This time around, Diana Taurasi has already announced her retirement. But with this 6x Olympian was her 5x Olympic gold medalist teammate and friend, Sue Bird, who left the sport two years ago. Hence, to fill her void in the team, other stars like A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart are raising their standards. Consequently, before their 2024 Olympics campaign even started, Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve spared a few words of appreciation.

In a press conference back in Phoenix, Cheryl Reeve mentioned how important A’ja Wilson and Stewart are going to be for the team. She mentioned, “Now the torch gets passed. There’s no longer a Sue Bird, somebody like that. There’s a space there, and both of those players are, I think, prepared to embrace that, and that’ll be important for our team’s success.”

Reeve further praised the athletes for adding to their game with every season by saying, “It is incredible how much those two have improved every year, have added something. It’s incredible the levels that they both play at.”

Back in May, ESPN’s analyst and former WNBA star Chiney Ogwumike had also praised A’ja Wilson. She had mentioned how the 2x Olympian tests her patterns on the floor and sticks with what works. Also, over the years, the Aces star’s numbers have only improved. However, what we are seeing from Breanna Stewart is also just as awe-inspiring. Let’s compare the stats of the two with how Bird has led Team USA over the years.

National careers in the spotlight: A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart vs Sue Bird

Combined, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart are 5x Olympians. On the other hand, Sue Bird left the sport as a 5x Olympic gold medalist. However, this might be the only difference between these talented stars. Having shared the podium with Bird, both Wilson and Stewart, after her departure, happily took over the leadership of the team.

Apart from that, even in numbers, A’ja Wilson and Stewart are doing incredibly well. In the two wins so far this season, they have contributed 60% of the team’s total. Through baskets, the number is already 50% as they have a total combined of 95 points of the team’s 189 points. Moreover, their brilliant rebounds are also something to look forward to. In the two games, they have 41 rebounds. Hence, they are really giving some tough competition to opponents.

As for Sue Bird, while her career average for the Olympics was 4.2 points only, it was her ability to create shots for her teammates that helped elevate the team. In the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games, she dished out an Olympic career-high 5.8 assists. Still, the expert vision she brought to the floor is simply unmatchable. Nevertheless, we can always count on Team USA to grab our eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal and continue its dominance.

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.