There was no professional basketball for me in the United States when I was in grade school and middle school. I could look to the Olympics and college basketball, but that was only on TV for the Final Four. Sue Bird More Quotes by Sue Bird More Quotes From Sue Bird I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but you have to know you're going to make mistakes. It's how you respond to those mistakes that counts. Sue Bird perfectionist knows mistake To be successful, you have to expose yourself to different situations-different styles of play, different teammates, different coaching. Sue Bird coaching successful play I'll play until my knees fall off. Sue Bird knees play fall I like pressure. I thrive on it. Sue Bird thrive pressure People probably assume I sleep in my uniform. Then I get up and go to the mall or the market in my uniform. Sue Bird uniforms sleep people I knew I would be able to come back from the injury 100 percent. Sue Bird injury able would-be When you have teammates just as talented as you, it's kind of weird to get all the attention. Sue Bird teammate kind attention I have to be more assertive-I have take more control at crunch time. Sue Bird crunch-time crunch assertive Going to college and living with someone of another race gave me a different view of what people have to go through. Sue Bird race college views The one thing you learn is when you can step out of your comfort zone and be uncomfortable, you see what you're made of and who you are. Sue Bird your step you comfort-zone When I turned 30, the first question I got was, 'How much longer do you want to play?' And I don't see why that can't be when you turn 40. I really don't. Sue Bird see you want play We're going to have a moment. It's coming: just that breakthrough that's going to give us a cool factor, and more people will want to be a part of it. Because that, to me, is the only thing we're lacking - that social thing: 'It's cool to go to a WNBA game.' Sue Bird cool me moment people Usually men, usually a guy, a casual fan of maybe the NBA and somebody who then watches the WNBA, their instinct is quick to kind of size us up or put themselves against us. Sue Bird casual size men watches Basketball is a short period of time, and you've got to take advantage of it. Sue Bird short you basketball time My high school class was the first one to know, during the college recruiting process, to know there was the option to play professional basketball, to know that the WNBA was there, and to know I better pick a school that is going to help me get to the next level. Sue Bird better me high-school school You can control what you put in your body, how you take care of yourself, how much you work. You have to control what you can. Sue Bird yourself you care work I love sneakers. My storage room is 75 percent sneakers. Sue Bird room sneakers percent love Every great team has had to fail at some point in order to be successful. Sue Bird some great team successful The reality is, like, women's basketball players are playing against women. And we're all in the same boat the same way men's sports is. Sue Bird women sports men reality Obviously, talent speaks for itself, so, yeah, you got to go in there, and you got to play well. You got to play your game, but that's kind of the easy part in some ways. Sue Bird game you talent easy
