Sue Bird’s Statue Ignites Backlash Against Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade Tribute

WNBA legend Sue Bird became the first player in league history to be given a statue after Seattle Storm unveiled her lifelike sculpture.

Sue Bird’s Statue Ignites Backlash Against Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade Tribute

Sue Bird's statue was far more accurate than Dwyane Wade's (Image via FirstSportz)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Sue Bird built a legacy for herself over 19 seasons with the Seattle Storm. She has been the franchise’s most decorated player, and rightfully, was awarded an ownership stake.

As a part-owner, the 44-year-old might not be able to engage in many aspects from the players’ point of view. However, she does her best to be a part of the surge in growth the league has been enjoying.

The New York native has made Seattle her 2nd home and spends most of her time there alongside partner Megan Rapinoe. There, she hosts her podcasts, some of which have been informative and entertaining for WNBA fans.

Bird has been appointed the next director of Team USA Basketball, which should see her have a greater role in the success of the women’s team. Women’s basketball is where her heart lies, which is why she has trimmed her schedule to concentrate on the sport.

Her post-playing career as a podcaster and part-owner might keep her engaged, but she had to clear her schedule when the Seattle Storm announced that they would unveil her statue.

She would be the first player in WNBA history to get a statue, and the Storm left no stone unturned to get it right. When she finally unveiled the statue, her former teammates, Rapinoe, and close friends were all in attendance.

They all cheered as they saw the lifelike sculpture for the first time ever. Sue Bird chose her 1st ever layup in the WNBA to be the pose that sculptors had to create, and they did a commendable job, highlighting all the intricate details to the T.

Fans slam Miami Heat after seeing Sue Bird’s lifelike statue

The WNBA is known to be a league that depends on the NBA for survival. They lose millions every year, and franchise owners do not have enough money to spend on necessities, let alone provide players with luxury.

Despite all that, the growth in women’s basketball has seen the franchise’s value rise to $325 million. On the other hand, the Miami Heat are valued at $4.25 billion, and its owner, Micky Arison, is worth nearly $10 billion.

Fans were enraged that, with all that money at their disposal, they could not get franchise legend Dwyane Wade‘s statue right. Whereas the Storm, a much smaller team, could perfect Sue Bird’s statue. Fans took to social media to ask what Heat to consult with the Storm and fix Wade’s statue.

They feel it was a disservice to the franchise’s greatest ever player, and it is still not too late to fix their mistake. Check out examples of those reactions below.

Dwyane Wade might not want to talk about it, as his facial expressions at the statue unveiling were enough evidence that he did not completely appreciate the outcome. However, there is not much he can do about it, and the statue continues to be a point of humor for sports fans.

Sue Bird’s closest friends come out to support her achievement

When Sue Bird was tasked with giving the Seattle Storm names of who all should be there at her statue unveiling, naturally, Megan Rapinoe was the first on the list. It is a foregone conclusion since the former USWNT star is a staple at Storm games.

Sue Bird's teammates and friends at her statue unveiling
Sue Bird’s teammates and friends at her statue unveiling (Image via Open Source/X)

The 4-time champion then listed UConn teammate, best friend, and Team USA teammate, Diana Taurasi, as another important guest. Then there was another UConn and Storm teammate, Swin Cash.

Last but not least, she wanted her partner in crime at the Storm and basketball Hall of Famer, Lauren Jackson, at the ceremony. The Australian flew 24 hours from her country to be beside her close friend and former teammate.

Also Read: