Overview
- Bird became the third UConn women’s player with a retired number, joining Rebecca Lobo and Swin Cash, in a pregame ceremony before the DePaul matchup as the top-ranked Huskies lined the court.
- Geno Auriemma lauded Bird as the greatest point guard in women’s college basketball during the ceremony.
- At UConn, Bird led title runs in 2000 and 2002 and still holds program records for 3-point (45.9%) and free-throw (89.2%) accuracy.
- Her professional résumé includes retiring as the WNBA’s all-time assist leader (3,234), four championships with the Seattle Storm, a record 13 All-Star selections, five Olympic gold medals and four FIBA World Cups.
- The event capped a year of honors that included Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction, a statue at Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena and Naismith Hall enshrinement, while alumni Paige Bueckers and Aaliyah Edwards also returned to practice with UConn as Auriemma noted a “different vibe.”