One of the most decorated female athletes coming out of Seattle, Sue Bird, is now the proud owner of a basketball franchise. In a monumental decision, the Seattle Storm management announced that the 4-time WNBA champion is now a part of their ownership group. This takes the Bird brand to new heights, as the move can positively impact her net worth.
However, there are still no financial details about this current deal made visible to the public. Still, there are some specifics that we can get our hands on.
Sue Bird owns Seattle’s stakes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
With an estimated net worth ranging between $8 million to $10 million, Sue Bird indulges in perhaps the most emotional investment of all. The creators of Force 10 Hoops had a landmark announcement to make on Wednesday. After an illustrious career that spanned almost two decades, the 43-year-old will now join Lisa Brummel, Ginny Gilder, and Dawn Trudeau in this “smart business.“ This development comes just after the Storm unveiled their new Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance. Seemingly, it is a $64 million state-of-the-art practice facility recently opened by the franchise.
View this post on Instagram
Elated by this association, Bird expressed her thoughts in an official press release. She said, “As a player, I poured my heart into every game for the Seattle Storm, and now, as part of the ownership group, I am thrilled to continue contributing to the growth of the game. Investing in women’s sports isn’t just about passion; it’s smart business. It’s about recognizing the immense talent, dedication, and market potential our league has always had.”
Anyhow, this is not the only investment that this iconic WNBA figure can flaunt.
Bird’s business ventures over the years
Soon after her retirement, Sue Bird indulged herself in various businesses from time to time. New Jersey-based NWSL club Gotham FC included the 13-time WNBA All-Star in its ownership group in July 2022. Similarly, she has also utilized her money in fitness brands like Tonal and AI company Diveplane. In addition to this, a women’s sports media brand called TOGETHXR is a joint venture of Sue Bird with USWNT legend Alex Morgan, Olympic Gold Medalist snowboarder Chloe Kim, and Olympic Gold Medalist swimmer Simone Manuel. The company was founded in 2021.
View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, there were also some attractive endorsements that Bird made the most of as an athlete. Very early in her career, she had lucrative deals with brands like Nike, State Farm, Symetra, American Express, CarMax, and Corona. These hold a combined worth of around $1.5 million. Not to forget, she also appeared in various commercials for Mendi, Glossier, and American Express. While she currently resides in Seattle, her real estate IQ has resulted in the accumulation of properties in New York, Connecticut, and Los Angeles. Also, she owns a fascinating collection of cars from a range of companies like Mercedes, Lexus, and Tesla.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
These are after she hung up her boots in 2022 after earning a substantial professional income.
What amounted to Sue Bird’s WNBA salary?
One of the financial highlights of the former Seattle Storm point guard was that she remained one of the highest-paid athletes for most of her career. Selected to be part of the roster in 2002. In an interview with ’60 Minutes’, she made the revelation that her initial contracts promised $60,000 per annum. This number surged in 2014, and Bird’s five-year deal promised her a sum of $673,000. This was further elevated to $215,000 per year when the WNBA’s new CBA was introduced in 2020. Eventually, Bird ended her career after earning $2.4 million from the league.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Still, a major portion of her income came from participating in overseas leagues. For 10 years, she became a part of numerous franchises in the Russian Premier League. Her talent and skills helped her collect paychecks ranging from $400,000 to $1 million per season.
The news of Sue Bird being a joint owner at Seattle Storm comes as a delight for many. Moreover, her understanding of the game and her 20-year experience will prove crucial for them in the WNBA. There are only a handful of individuals with her expertise who can contribute to the franchises’ betterment. It will be enthralling to witness what changes she can bring to the Storm’s fortunes in the upcoming season.