Seattle Storm’s Sue Bird leads US to 7th straight women’s hoops gold medal in her last Olympics

Sue Bird won her fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal in the championship game against Japan at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday.

TOKYO, Japan – Sue Bird finished her flawless 17-year run at the Olympics with a record fifth gold medal. Everything she and her longtime US teammate Diana Taurasi have done on the international stage is up for grabs and is now alone with five gold medals – the first basketball players to ever achieve this feat – after a 90:75 win over Japan on Sunday at the Tokyo Games.

The U.S. has now won the last seven Olympic gold medals, making the country’s men’s program for the best of all time in a row. The men did it from 1936-68.

“I mean, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending,” said Bird after the game. “I’m so proud to be able to wear this uniform for as long as I have it.”

Bird, 40, is the oldest Olympic gold medalist in basketball and one of the most honored athletes in Seattle sports history.

Bird was drafted to the Seattle Storm in 2002 and has led the team to four WNBA championships. She also holds four World Cup gold medals and one bronze medal and is now a five-time Olympic champion.

G🥇O🥇L🥇D🥇E🥇N🥇 # TakeCover x @usabasketball pic.twitter.com/OmxByY4JZB

– Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) August 8, 2021

Taking part in the Tokyo Games and now that they are over, Bird is the most decorated FIBA ​​World Cup athlete in history, male or female.

Bird got engaged to her partner and Seattle soccer star Megan Rapinoe in 2020. The couple became the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of ESPN The Magazine’s Body Issue in 2018.

Rapinoe was on the sidelines during Bird’s gold medal game.

“I was determined to see this game no matter what,” said Rapinoe.

When asked what inspires Rapinoe about Bird?

“I mean everything,” laughed Rapinoe. “The way she does her business, the person she is, the leader she is … She plays with a sense of joy … She makes everyone on and off the pitch better,” Rapinoe continued.

Rapinoe and Bird shared a sweet moment after Bird’s Olympic victory.