WNBA great says players must 'strap in' for transition from Final Four
Hall of Famer and former WNBA No. 1 overall draft pick Sue Bird spoke to The Republic about college players quickly adjusting to professional life.
Sue Bird can attest to the limited adjustment period from college to the WNBA. The Hall of Famer spoke to The Arizona Republic about players getting just six days after being selected in the 2026 WNBA Draft on April 13 to arrive at their new team's training camp beginning April 19. Then the league's preseason runs April 25 to May 3.
“The advice I would give is just, man, strap in because it’s a lot," Bird said. "It’s quick. You have a lot of moving pieces.
You have to make a lot of big decisions, so really just try to surround yourself with the people that you do trust, whether it’s your family members. By now, all these players have agents. " Bird was the Seattle Storm's No.
1 overall pick in 2002, less than three weeks after she led UConn to that year's national title and an undefeated, 39-0 season. There were 45 players selected during this year's three-round draft. UConn standout Azzi Fudd was taken first overall by the Dallas Wings.