Sue Bird Barbie, explained: Why Mattel is honoring WNBA great with signature doll

Though Barbie summer technically came last year, Mattel decided there was one athlete worth celebrating now. The company is honoring Sue Bird with her very own custom doll in 2024.

Mattel has been vocal in its support for women in sports, and Bird exemplifies a successful career in the field.

A WNBA and Team USA legend, Bird was instrumental in growing the game not only across the country but around the world over the last two decades. Now, little kids everywhere can find inspiration in their Sue Bird dolls even with her playing days behind her.

Bird joins the long line of athletes who have been honored with their own doll, including tennis legend Venus Williams, soccer star Christine Sinclair and Olympic gymnast Rebeca Andrade. Here is everything you need to know about the WNBA great's signature Barbie.

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Sue Bird Barbie, explained

Bird, one of the most prolific women's basketball stars in the history of the WNBA and Team USA, is being recognized by Mattel with a signature Barbie doll in honor of the doll's 65th anniversary.

The doll is a part of Mattel's Role Model series , which includes figures like Viola Davis, Shania Twain and Helen Mirren. It is also a part of the company's summer of sports initiative.

The doll is pictured wearing a No. 10 jersey, Bird's number in the WNBA. She wore No. 6 for Team USA. This announcement also comes after Barbie announced its 2023 career collection dedicated to women in sports in September of last year.

Sue Bird age

Bird was born on October 16, 1980, making her 43 years old at the time of Mattel's announcement.

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Sue Bird WNBA championships

Bird retired from the WNBA in 2022 after 21 seasons in the league, all with the Seattle Storm. During her career, she won four championships with the team in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020. She is the league's winningest player, with 324 wins in 550 career games.

In addition to her four titles, Bird is also the WNBA's all-time assist leader—she finished her career with 3,234 total assists and broke the record on her 2,600th dime. She also leads the WNBA in all-time career starts and career games.

Sue Bird Olympic record

Bird's Olympic record is pristine, as is Team USA's from 1996 onward. The U.S. women's basketball team has won the gold medal in seven straight Games, including all five times Bird was on the roster.

Bird is one of two Olympic basketball players of either gender to win five gold medals. The other player is none other than her Team USA teammate Diana Taurasi, who is tapped to go to her sixth Olympics in search of a historic sixth gold medal.

Here's a look at each of Bird's Olympic years and the team's respective finishes.

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