Retired point guard Sue Bird holds the record for most career assists in the WNBA, with 3,234 over the course of her 19-season professional career. She's also won four WNBA championships, five Olympic gold medals and two NCAA championships. She spoke with Terry Gross about playing overseas in Russia, staying cool under pressure, and her pump-up song for games. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted radio hour, linguist Ann.
Curzan says she gets a lot of.
Complaints about people using the pronoun they.
To refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is FRESH aiR.
I'm Terry Gross.
My guest, Sue Bird has to take some credit for boosting the popularity of women's basketball.
Shes considered the best point guard in womens basketball history, and she could shoot, too.
In college, she led the Yukon Huskies to become a two time NCAA champion with the Seattle Storm.
She was a four time WNBA champion.
She was a WNBA all star 13 times and won five Olympic gold medals.
Its hard to give up such an impressive career doing what you love, but she made the decision to retire in 2022 after 21 years on the WNBA.
She wondered who she would be without basketball, and now she has a partial answer.
She's an activist fighting for gender equity in women's sports.
I didn't realize that during most of her years on the WNBA, she was forced to supplement her WNBA salary by playing overseas.
In her case, it was in Russia.