(AP) SEATTLE — Sue Bird stands out from other WNBA point guards thanks to her keen eye for the court and in-depth knowledge of the game, much to the chagrin of her rivals over the previous two decades.
Coach Mike Thibault of the Washington Mystics has closely observed Bird during his WNBA tenure. During the Storm's elimination of the Mystics from the WNBA Playoffs, he witnessed Bird, the league's all-time leader in assists, perform a legendary performance.
Thibault, the league's all-time leader in coaching victories, stated, "As much as I adore Sue, I will be delighted that she's sitting over in the stands next year when we walk in this place."
Both teammates and rivals cite Bird's sharp intelligence as an asset. She constantly analyses and anticipates everything. Bird, 41, has decided that this is her final season. However, she first wants to win her sixth WNBA championship with the Storm, where she has played her whole career.
Seattle's best-of-five semifinal matchup starting on Sunday versus Las Vegas will put Bird's coaching prowess to the test. Bird, Breanna Stewart, and the rest of the Storm now hate Las Vegas, the top team in the league during the regular season.
We have a lot of work ahead of us, Bird added. They provide a lot of issues.
The Aces have won five of the previous six games going back to last season. This season, they won three of four games, including two in the last week. In the WNBA bubble in Florida, Seattle defeated Las Vegas to win its final championship in 2020. The Aces must be resolved if the Storm is to send Bird off on top.
According to Thibault and several coaches, the best point guards in the league have an outstanding vision. It pertains to their perspective of the game both before and during play. Few people can match Bird's degree of "floor general" proficiency.
"Coaches on the floor are a topic that we discuss frequently. To be quite honest with you, though, there aren't that many," Thibault added. She, however, is one of them because of her natural ability to read the game. "OK, we've come down, and this isn't working, but this did," for example. She can say to a participant, "Go there because I know they're going to do this." She studies the game and has a feel for it.
The Storm eliminated Mystics standout Elena Delle Donne from the playoffs on Sunday. The Bird had a season-high 18 points and ten assists in the victory. She gained firsthand knowledge when the pair played abroad for the United States.
Because of the way she was able to explain the game and break it down while also making it simpler, Delle Donne stated, "I've never felt so prepared for games." Sue's teams succeed because of it. I believe Sue has some lessons for us. She has been so successful because of that. Because of this, all of her teams are well-prepared.
After she retires from playing, Delle Donne proposed that Bird pursue a career in coaching. It's not just her.
Coach Noelle Quinn of Seattle has a distinct understanding of the breadth of Bird's court vision. She witnessed it for three seasons while a teammate, the last of which concluded in 2018 with Bird's third of four WNBA championships. As Bird's coach for the previous two seasons, she saw it.
"There was something about these times that let me see why she is so wonderful. You just see her mentally and physically go into a different gear," Quinn added. "I've witnessed it numerous times, and it never ceases to amaze me how she is able to just lock on and excel at those moments."
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