WNBA ALL-STAR GAME

July 10, 2022

Breanna Stewart

Sue Bird

Team Stewart- Media Conference

Team Wilson 134, Team Stewart 112

Q. Sue, this being your Final All-Star Game, what is the best advice that you've gotten over the course of your career? And Breanna, what were you able to tell Sue as far as advice goes to be able to have that cohesiveness that you have on your respective team?

SUE BIRD: You mean advice for All-Star Games? Not much advice for All-Star games. Just go out there and do what you do. Or actually, I mean, the WNBA will hate me for this but whatever time they say to be downstairs, add 15. Add 15 minutes. Sorry, Bonnie [Thurston].

Q. What have you learned from Sue specifically that will enable you to move forward in your career?

BREANNA STEWART: I've learned a lot from Sue. I think that just the way she handles and prepares herself on and off the court, ultimate competitor. Just a lot of -- a lot to take with, as I continue on, and right now we just appreciate these moments that we have.

Q. What was that moment like on the court as you were checking out for the last time, just Chicago erupting for you? And second question, has it hit you now that things are starting to come to a close?

SUE BIRD: That moment was really special. James [Wade] actually came over to me at some point as the fourth quarter was starting like, hey, do you want to go back in? I was like, do what you need to do to win the game. Don't worry about me.

He's like, no, no, let me put you back in, so I can take you out.

I was like, oh, I see what you're doing here.

So that was really considerate of him to think of me, and it was a really nice moment to share with the crowd, with the other players.

As far as it sinking in, I think the minute the words came out of my mouth a couple weeks ago, I felt at peace with everything. There are definitely moments where I get a little emotional or sad because I know it's the end of something, but I'm also really excited to start my next life. So I'm just trying to enjoy it, soak it all in, all the clichés you can think of and we'll see what happens next.

Q. What is the significance behind coming out of the locker room together with those Griner shirts versus, say, starting the game with them?

SUE BIRD: Yeah, I mean, either way you look at it, we just wanted to make sure at some point that we were able to on national television, obviously in front of a sold-out crowd, put Brittney's name in the forefront and that was our way of honoring her, our way of hopefully at some point she sees a picture or something and letting her know that she is always on our minds and in our hearts, but it's also a way to have other people see her name, maybe someone turned on the TV and doesn't know about the story and is like, oh why are they all wearing the same jersey number? And in those moments it brings awareness and it constantly reminds the Biden Administration that we are supporting them and whatever they need to do to get Brittney home, we're behind them.

Q. Has the outpouring of support made retiring more difficult, and any plans to stick around with the W?

SUE BIRD: No, it doesn't make it more difficult. It's actually just a nice feeling. I just said this earlier. The word I'm landing on is maybe a little bit of closure. I think as an athlete when you come to the end of your career, so much goes into the decision to actually retire. So the way people have reacted and these little moments I get both in Seattle and on the road, it just -- I know it's the right timing for me but it does, it gives it a little like, okay, this is going to be all right. Like everyone is getting their moment, too, that we can kind of share.

I don't know what's next. There's stuff planned but we'll see.

Q. How did Ruby like her first All-Star Game and what was behind the thinking of having her sit on the bench with you?

BREANNA STEWART: I think Ruby loved her first All-Star Game. She got one of those little balls and it's been in her mouth since she got it.

All-Star Game is a game to have fun and celebrate and I wanted to bring her on the bench because she's always a good vibe. She always makes everybody a little bit happier. I think she wanted to crawl and go on the court.

SUE BIRD: Should have let her. That would have been hilarious.

Q. For Sue, when you were here in Vegas we talked a little about Kelsey Plum for a story I was working on, and I'm curious because one of the things you had said is she's so hungry and you can always count on her going after it. You couldn't have been too surprised by her performance today. If you can just comment on how she just sort of went after it?

SUE BIRD: So we were actually flying when the draft that Stewie and A'ja did got aired, so I didn't see the draft live. But when I saw the order, I was like, dang, Stew, you should have taken Plum. Plum needed to go first because you just knew Plum was going to come in this game and like you said, be super hungry.

That's just who she is. I think she's in a great place physically, mentally and things are starting to click for her. I got to see this firsthand at the University of Washington, when she has her confidence, it's really tough to stop her and that's what you're seeing right now, just a really confident player.

Q. And two of the last three years have been very poignant in the WNBA, in the bubble with the "Say Her Name" campaign and now with the message for Brittney Griner. How proud are you, No. 1, but also sort of going out with such strong statements, going out in your career with such strong statements for the W?

SUE BIRD: Yeah, I could definitely sit here and talk about the league. I'm sure everyone in here has heard me speak about the fact that we learn strength in numbers is big for us in terms of the volume of our voice, when 144 players are I guess attacking the same issue at the same time, that's when we see results.

But I think for me personally what's been really amazing about the last couple years is I think back on my career and I definitely was part of a shut-up-and-dribble generation where that's what we did, we didn't complain too much or talk about things too much because we were scared to or it was the vibe, we understood the vibe. It was an unspoken vibe but it was there. Even coming out as gay, that's not something I would have done in the early part of my career because, oh, what does that mean?

I'm just really proud for two reasons: One, that we have found our strength in our voice, and I'm just proud that I got to be a part of a small part of it at the end of my career.

Q. Someone had asked Sylvia about her post-career plans. Just wondering what's your post-career plans, especially with this being your last All-Star? And Stewie, is this kind of a moment in your career where you are sort of thinking, okay, like, you know, advancing into a post-Sue career as far as like really being a standard bearer for the W?

SUE BIRD: She's already doing that.

For me, I brushed by the last question, I can't imagine I'm not involved in the world of basketball, specifically the WNBA. I don't know exactly what that looks like yet but I can't imagine that I'm not. I do have other things that I've already started to do, whether it's working with Together and being more involved, the Peyton's Places, I'll be doing a version of that, the basketball side of it. So there's little things that are on my schedule and it's kind of I think going to work out great because I'll have something to look forward to but also time to myself to detox a little bit and think about what I actually want to do in what will be my next life.

BREANNA STEWART: I'm not really looking forward to thinking about post-Sue career. Maybe, I'm trying to convince her to come back, I'll keep trying. We'll see what happens. But no, I think --

SUE BIRD: Can't --

BREANNA STEWART: "One more year!"

No, everything that Sue has done, I will just try and continue that and carry it on, the way that she's tried to elevate and uplift our sport, always striving for more and to be better, those are the main things. Obviously the skill speaks for itself but to make this league better for this generation and the next generation, like she did for us.

Q. Just wanted to ask about the union, the WNBPA and how that's affected the "We Are BG" campaign and both of you in leadership positions there. Can you speak about the strength of the union over the past couple months in getting BG home?

BREANNA STEWART: I think ever since everybody found out about BG being wrongfully detained, the Union was there to step right in and be a major facilitator for us to use our platform, use our voice, do as much as we can and make sure the petition is out there and at the same time send a strong message. I think that they are the ones that are coordinating with most of us, whether it's the t-shirts or QR code or like I said, the petition. We are all in this fight together to bring her home and I think that when you have, like Sue said earlier, those strength in numbers, it makes a bigger splash and we get attention and we are getting people's attention and we need to continue to ask President Biden and the White House to bring her home.

Q. You're one of the best point guards to grace the hardwood and being around so many other talents, can you name some other young guards that catch your eye for something specific or whose game you appreciate as well?

SUE BIRD: Yeah, where to begin? I think today's game showcased a lot of the talent at the guard spot. You know, on our roster, one of my favorite players in the league is Arike. I've said that before. She's so exciting and there's so much potential there and she's really just getting started in a lot of ways.

Then you take a player like Plum, Sabrina, what I like about their story is I don't think the starts of their career, totally different starts, but they didn't start the way they wanted to but yet they found ways to improve, found ways to turn it around. I think that can be -- that's one of the hardest things to do, right, when things are not going your way but you find a way to turn it around. I've been so impressed with those two players.

Kahleah Copper is so exciting to watch. Literally you could go down all the guards.

Rhyne Howard obviously has an amazing future. The best part about all these players is they are, what, like 26 and younger and I can tell you now, like you should -- it's only going to get better. You're only going to get smarter and you're only going to get more skilled, you're going to work on things. So when they enter their prime, which you could argue is 28 and up, they are going to be even that much more exciting to watch.

I keep saying this but I'm looking forward to being a fan because I will have played against these players and I will understand what it is but also get to watch them grow and see how they succeed.