Sunday, August 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.—this date and time hold major significance and have been marked on the calendars of every ardent WNBA fan. Why, you ask? That’s because Sue Bird’s former team, the Seattle Storm, will unveil a statue of their iconic player outside Climate Pledge Arena. And with August already slipping away into a moment in time (this one’s for you, Swifties), the unveiling day feels closer than ever. Fans can hardly wait. That anticipation recently led Sue Bird to offer a sneak peek of her statue, which even earned the approval of her fiancée and USWNT icon, Megan Rapinoe.

Well, hold your horses — it’s not like the former American basketballer shared a picture, something everyone would have absolutely loved to see. But where’s the fun in that, right? Isn’t it better to witness the big moment live, watching the drapes go down in person? Either way, Sue Bird only shared her initial impressions of the iconic statue after being asked out of genuine curiosity by NWSL’s Angel City stars Ali Riley and Sydney Leroux on the latest episode of the BFFR podcast.

While congratulating her, Riley playfully warned Bird to make sure the statue doesn’t turn out like the time David Beckham got punked with a hilariously awful version of his LA Galaxy tribute. Thankfully, Bird reassured everyone that’s not the case here, insisting, “I have seen it. I was a part of the process. But I’ve only seen the clay version, so they have to like they make it clay first.”

“It’s like the big whole thing, and then they bronze it. So, I haven’t seen the bronze version yet.” Then again, even after looking at the clay model, Bird seemed impressed, highlighting that the statue makers made her quite aesthetic. “They make me look like I’m so ripped that I’m happy. I don’t care. This is on another level,” added the 4x FIBA World Cup winner.

Megan Rapinoe also echoed Bird, adding, “No, I’ll take it. It looks good,” making it evident that she has surely seen what’s set to be unveiled in the coming days. The best part is that the WNBA icon herself got to pick what her statue will feature and what not, something that Sue considers herself lucky for.

That further ignited a curiosity in Ali Riley and Sydney Leroux about the exact pose Sue Bird had chosen for her statue. In response, Bird raised one arm into the air with her fist closed, casually imitating the pose. “It’s just like a layup,” she explained, before adding, “There’s a lot of [muscles] in the back,” teasing that the sculpted version might be showing off more than just her form.

Having spent 21 seasons with the franchise, the tribute is far more than just a gesture for the legendary American basketballer. “Sue’s legacy isn’t just written in championships—it’s woven into the fabric of Seattle,” said Seattle Storm President & CEO Alisha Valavanis. “Her leadership transcended basketball and helped shape a cultural shift—one that expanded who gets to lead, who gets seen, and who gets celebrated.”

Further expressing her gratitude was Sue Bird, who also said, “For over two decades, the city of Seattle supported me, both on and off the court. It’s because of this community that Seattle will forever hold a special place in my heart. This statue isn’t just for me, it’s for anyone out there hoping to one day pursue their passions and live out their dreams.” 

Inspirational stuff right there. Future basketballers will surely feel empowered seeing the statue, as it stands to honor and extend Sue Bird’s incredible legacy. And while we’re on the topic of statues, let’s just say Megan Rapinoe has her own version of one, though not in the traditional sense.

Megan Rapinoe, too, has her own statue… in a way

You remember Megan Rapinoe’s trademark celebration, right? To jog your memory, it’s famously known as “the pose” or “arms outstretched” — where she stands tall, feet firmly planted, arms extended wide, and a confident smirk on her face after scoring. This moment became iconic during the 2019 Women’s World Cup and was so impactful that athletes across different sports began replicating it in tribute.

Well, keeping that in mind, Nike teamed up with Snapchat to launch a fun and fitting filter — the Rapinoe Statue Lens. The AR filter turns users into a golden statue of Rapinoe mid-celebration. As if this digital tribute wasn’t enough, famous toy company LEGO also honored her uniquely during her fourth World Cup with the USWNT in 2023.

The former forward was featured in their Icons of Play set, part of their Play Unstoppable campaign aimed at breaking gender stereotypes and encouraging girls to play freely and confidently. “Super excited to be part of this with LEGO,” Rapinoe said on Instagram before the set was released, with the former Seattle Reign star getting her own LEGO in her signature pink hair.

In fact, she wasn’t alone and was one of four players included in the set, as the others were Australia’s Sam Kerr, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala, and Japan’s Yuki Nagasato. The 899-piece set also comes with a mini soccer field, stands, a dugout, a podium, and a camera for video-assisted review. In addition to the players, there are 11 other figurines, including a referee, a coach, and fans as well. The set was on sale for $99.99.

As for talking about something more significant, Megan Rapinoe also earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which surely adds to her already impressive career achievements, be it individual or personal.