SEATTLES –
This time tears flowed, on the pitch and in the stands. The finality of the situation finally hit Sue Bird and the thousands who turned out hoping her career would continue for at least 40 minutes.
Chelsea Gray was just too good, sending the Las Vegas Aces into Game 4 of their semifinals series Tuesday night at the WNBA Finals, where they defeated the Seattle Storm 97-92.
It ended Bird’s illustrious career. With that came fan thanks, tears and a final walk off the court where Bird’s career began more than two decades ago.
“Kind of weird. Definitely surreal. I think initially…I was sad about the season and the game. And then I guess when the emotions came to the surface, that’s what I knew deep down too that this was my last game,” Bird said.
Gray scored 15 of their 31 points in the fourth quarter and the Aces won the best-of-five series 3-1, all games tense, punchy and full of spectacular shots. The Aces ended up making more, especially Gray, who made five of six shots on the range and scored 12 of the last 20 points for the Aces.
“I don’t think anyone on planet earth can protect her,” Seattle coach Noelle Quinn said. “She was unconscious.”
For Las Vegas it will be the third final participation in franchise history. The Aces lost to Seattle in the 2020 WNBA bubble played in Florida, and the franchise reached the finals in 2008 while still in San Antonio, losing to Detroit.
“It’s a bit like the girl who hit Serena (Williams). It’s bittersweet,” said Aces coach Becky Hammon. “I know that myself and our staff, our team and our organization have so much respect for Sue. She had a fairytale career, one that children dream of. She has to live it.”
Breanna Stewart equaled the WNBA playoff record with 42 points, only the fifth player to score 40 or more points in a postseason game, and Jewell Loyd added 29. But Seattle couldn’t find a third scorer and the Aces had an answer to every attack Seattle made after Las Vegas took the lead early in the second half.
The aces will be in the spotlight in the final. After the result, that night was all about Bird and concluding her two decades as a pillar of the Storm franchise and the WNBA.
Bird stayed put after last buzzer and received hugs from the entire aces roster. She wiped away tears as the crowd cheered and cried with her and sang “Thank you, Sue.”
“I also wanted to have one last moment to say thank you, to soak it all up because in a way it’s a happy thing,” Bird said. “I’m proud of everything we’ve achieved here.”
Bird, the league’s oldest player at 41, started the year with thoughts of retirement but made the final decision midway through the regular season.
Las Vegas spoiled the party at Seattle’s home finals of the regular season when Bird was honored by the franchise and the league for her 21 seasons with the team and 19 as a player and missed two seasons through injury.
And it was the Aces that finally eliminated Bird and the Storm after four stressful games filled with great performances.
Bird ended her career as one of the most accomplished players of all time: four WNBA titles, five Olympic gold medals, two collegiate titles at UConn, the WNBA all-time leader in assists and games played, and recognition as one of the great players during one golden generation for the league.
She will also retire the definition of being a floor leader and ultimately a winner.
But she was unable to add a fifth title to that definitive resume.
“As sad as it is that we won’t be able to contend for a championship, I think what’s even more devastating…is just the fact that we won’t be on the court with Sue anymore,” Steward said.
Gray was the biggest thorn in Seattle’s side as their clutch often fired late in the shot clock. Seattle equalized at 67-all, only to hit Gray with a 3 when the shot clock ran out.
Gray later made buckets in the fourth straight to keep the Aces ahead, but her miss and Gabby Williams’ three-point game gave Seattle an 83-82 lead with 2:40 to go.
That was Seattle’s last lead.
Wilson’s three-point play put the Aces back 85-83 and Gray wouldn’t miss, their knight with 30 seconds left giving the Aces a 92-87 lead. Wilson finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
“When Chelsea is rocking and rolling, my biggest thing is just avoiding her,” Wilson said. “At the end of the day, you just have to get out of the way and let people rock.”
OTHER RETIREMENT
Tuesday was also the last game for Seattle’s Briann January after 14 seasons in the league. January played for four teams, spending most of her career in Indiana.
RECORD HALF
Stewart’s 26 first-half points were the most in the first half of a playoff game, surpassing the 24 first-half points Angel McCoughtry had for Atlanta vs. Minnesota in 2011. McCoughtry finished that game with 38.
NEXT
Las Vegas will host either Connecticut or Chicago in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday.