Sue Bird's 'Surreal' Reaction to Barbie Tribute

WNBA legend Sue Bird is being honored with her own Barbie doll as part of Mattel's 65th-anniversary celebration and summer of sports initiative.

"I was really excited when I heard," Bird said, as reported by PEOPLE’s Tanisha Bhat . "I grew up playing with Barbies so it's kind of a surreal moment when something like this happens."

Bird, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, joins nine other female athletes, including tennis star Venus Williams and soccer player Christine Sinclair, in the Role Model dolls initiative. Notably, Bird's doll is the only one available for purchase, featuring a "Made to Move" body sculpt that allows it to mimic real basketball moves.

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Reflecting on her own childhood, Bird noted the lack of athlete-specific Barbie dolls and expressed hope that her doll will inspire young girls to pursue their athletic dreams.

"This is going to have that impact of ‘seeing it and being it,’" she said. "Now little girls and little boys are going to see a professional women's basketball player in the form of a Barbie and think ‘Oh, this is something I could do.’ And that's really powerful."

Bird’s involvement in the creative process of her doll allowed her to incorporate some of her signature looks, including her meticulous approach to her appearance on the court.

"It's just a simple ponytail, but I took a lot of pride in making sure there were no flyaways," she said.

The Sue Bird Barbie doll is now available for purchase through the Mattel Shop, with a portion of the proceeds supporting Every Kids Sport, a nonprofit that helps children access youth sports.

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