SEATTLE (AP) — Sue Bird helped the Seattle Storm to four WNBA titles. Now, she will continue guiding the franchise as one of its owners.
Team owners, Force 10 Hoops, said Wednesday that Bird has joined the ownership group. No financial details were provided about the transaction.
Bird said in a team statement her involvement with the Storm will continue to grow the game.
“Investing in women's sports isn't just about passion,” she said. “It's smart business.”
Business has been good for the Storm during Bird's nearly two decades as a player.
She was the No. 1 overall pick by Seattle in the 2002 WNBA draft out of UConn and played 19 seasons. She retired after the 2022 season as the league's career assists leader with 3,234.
Bird was part of WNBA championships with the Storm in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020.
Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel said Bird's knowledge of the game and the league, plus her business acumen “make her a superb addition,”
The ownership group recently opened the Seattle Storm Center for Basketball Performance, a new, $64 million practice facility.
WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
FILE - Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird brings the ball up against the Washington Mystics during the second half of Game 1 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series Aug. 18, 2022, in Seattle. The Storm's owners, Force 10 Hoops, said Wednesday, April 24, 2024, that Bird has joined the ownership group. Bird said in a team statement her involvement with the Storm will continue to grow the game. “Investing in women's sports isn't just about passion,” she said. “It's smart business.” (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vancouver coach Rick Tocchet won't deny being one of the NHL's final eight teams still alive means a lot.
An all-Canadian showdown against the Edmonton Oilers in the second round?
Even better.
“We know the next series will be tough," Tocchet said Friday night after his Canucks advanced by downing Nashville 1-0 in Game 6.
The Jack Adams finalist for NHL coach of the year took the Canucks from a team that missed the postseason a year ago by finishing 11th in the Western Conference to placing third in the West this season. They won the Pacific Division with 109 points, winning all four games with Edmonton.
The Canucks survived a low-shooting series with Nashville, with each of the final four games decided by one goal.
Pius Suter ended a scoreless tie with his second goal this postseason with 1:39 left for the latest winning goal in a Canucks' series-clinching game. That topped Daniel Sedin's goal with 2:03 left in Game 6 of the 2010 conference quarterfinal.
Even then, the Canucks had to kill a penalty in the final 33.9 seconds as Nashville pulled goalie Juuse Saros for an extra attacker.
Canucks captain Quinn Hughes, a Norris Trophy finalist, said it's a great feeling.
Vancouver had not won a playoff series outside the pandemic bubble in 2020 since their run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011. The Canucks also clinched a series against the Predators in Game 6 in Nashville during that run.
“We stuck to what we wanted to do the whole game," Hughes said. "We didn’t crack. I thought we played really good team defense. I thought (rookie goalie Arturs Silovs) played amazing. We knew we were going to have our looks. Brock made a great play, Pius great finish.”
The Canucks now are in the second round after missing the postseason a year ago for the fifth time in franchise history. They also advanced in 2020, 2009, 2007 and 1974.
This will be their first postseason series against the Oilers since 1992, and Edmonton won that second-round series in six games. The Oilers have been resting since ousting the Los Angeles Kings in five games on Wednesday night.
“I have thought about it for more than two seconds to be honest with you,” Canucks forward J.T. Miller said of facing the Oilers.
Tocchet will have to decide which goaltender to start. Vezina Trophy finalist Thatcher Demko has started skating from an injury that sidelined him after a Game 1 win, and Casey DeSmith has been healthy enough to back up Silovs the past two games.
All three goalies won at least one game in the first round, just the seventh time in NHL history a team won a playoff series where at least three different goalies started a game and the third in 50 years. Philadelphia did it in 2011, and Detroit did it in 1988.
Silovs made 28 saves to become the 14th rookie goalie in NHL history to finish off a series with a shutout and just the fifth in 30 years. At 23 years and 42 days, Silovs also became the youngest goalie in team history with a playoff shutout. Demko had been the only other goalie to do that before turning 25.
“For him to step in as a young kid like that, step into playoff games, big games and play the way he did, it was awesome,” defenseman Tyler Myers said of Silovs. “It was great to see.”
Vancouver will have to produce more offense after having a combined 92 shots through the first five games. That was the fewest to start a playoff series through five games since 1960, second only Washington who had 90 in the 1998 Eastern Conference semifinals.
“Hopefully, some of those goals will go in for us in the next series,” Tocchet said.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
An ice worker skates off the ice with a pair of catfish before the start of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series between the Nashville Predators and the Vancouver Canucks, Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Ian Cole (82) passes the puck away from Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) and Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) get into a scuffle during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Nashville Predators goaltender Juuse Saros (74) catches a puck against the Vancouver Canucks during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro (57) and goaltender Juuse Saros (74) block a shot on goal as Vancouver Canucks center Dakota Joshua (81) leaps over the puck during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) passes the puck past Nashville Predators center Colton Sissons (10) during the first period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) pulls Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski, left, down to the ice during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators center Mark Jankowski, left, during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks goaltender Arturs Silovs (31) blocks a shot on goal by Nashville Predators left wing Jason Zucker (16) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) celebrates his goal against the Nashville Predators with teammates during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1- 0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter (24) is congratulated after his goal by teammates during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Vancouver Canucks players celebrate the team's 1-0 win against the Nashville Predators in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks shake hands after Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0 winning the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov (91) congratulates center Pius Suter (24) after his goal against the Nashville Predators during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 3, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. The Canucks won 1-0 winning the series four games to two. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
The Canucks ready for all-Canadian second-round after eliminating Nashville
