Sue Bird just keeps on scoring and winning.
In her 17th season with the WNBA, Bird was second in the league in total assists and second in three-pointers per game. She earned her 11th All-Star appearance, playing on a mostly LGBTQ Team Delle Donne.
Of course she was also a huge part of the Seattle Storm’s three-game series sweep of the Washington Mystics in the WNBA Finals, leading the team in assists each of the three games. The title was her third WNBA championship.
She also landed a new off-the-court job in the front office of the Denver Nuggets, part of a groundbreaking swell of women moving into men’s professional sports.
Bird came out publicly in 2017, sharing that she was dating soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
For her continued success on the court and for being an out and proud inspiration for other young athletes, Seattle Storm point guard and WNBA superstar Sue Bird is Outsports’ 2018 Female Athlete of the Year.
Runners-up: Dutch speedskater Ireen Wust, WNBA player DeWanna Bonner, Virginia Tech basketball player Taylor Emery, Louisville track star Emmonnie Henderson.
Previous Outsports Female Athlete of the Year winners:
2017: Seimone Augustus
2016: Nicola Adams
2015: Abby Wamback and Megan Rapinoe
2014: Brittney Griner
Outsports has divided year-end Athlete and Hero awards to highlight accomplishments of people across genders. We understand that not everyone fits into the binary gender world currently established in sports, and we will honor that with additional awards when appropriate.
