WNBA

The Seattle Storm have signed All-Star guard Jewell Loyd to a multi-year contract extension as she wraps up the best season of her career.

Seattle is in the midst of the longest losing streak in franchise history, dropping 10 straight games. This was always going to be a transition year for the Storm with the retirement of Sue Bird and Breanna Stewart leaving for the Liberty in free agency.

For more than 20 seasons, Sue Bird was the face of the Seattle Storm. But Seattle has now entered a different phase of the franchise after Bird retired and Breanna Stewart signed with the New York Liberty in free agency. It’s a rebuild for Seattle that is centered around Jewell Loyd, now in her ninth season.

For more than two hours, Sue Bird was back commanding the middle of the court. At times funny, at times emotional, Bird’s 21-year career received a ceremony that matched the longevity of her basketball exploits when the Seattle Storm retired the No. 10 she wore during her WNBA career.

March Madness may be the last time for fans to see many of the talented college women players compete. There are only potentially 144 WNBA roster spots available and most of those are filled with returning players. There has been talk of expansion over the last few years, but nothing has come to fruition yet.

Sue Bird played what might be her last game at home in Seattle in front of 18,100 fans. Bird is a five time Olympic gold medalist, four time WNBA champion, and 13 time WNBA all-star. Fans celebrate her final season with fervor.

Seattle Storm co-owner Ginny Gilder says fighting for equal treatment as a rower at Yale 46 years ago radicalized her. As Title IX marks its 50th anniversary this year, Gilder is one of countless women who benefited from the enactment and execution of the law, translating those opportunities into becoming leaders in their professional careers.

Seattle Storm star and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird says the 2022 season will be her last playing in the WNBA. The announcement by the 41-year-old ended any speculation about her future.

The Seattle Storm spent the 2020 WNBA season playing in a bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they spent the 2019 and 2021 seasons bouncing between venues in the Puget Sound region while their arena was rebuilt. That changes Friday night when the Storm open the WNBA season against Minnesota. They’re back in the heart of the city, making their regular-season debut at Climate Pledge Arena.

Ahead of the Seattle Storm home opener, veteran player Sue Bird talked with KNKX’s Kirsten Kendrick about her decision to return for at least one more year. Kirsten also asked Bird about WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner, who's been detained in Russia since February. Listen to the latest installment in our series "Going Deep."