Retired Seattle Storm legend Sue Bird collected five Olympic gold medals and 13 WNBA All-Star selections over her career. Along with the accolades, her aim to inspire future generations of WNBA players still stands.
On Tuesday, doll manufacturer Mattel announced that Bird would get her own Barbie doll as part of the company’s 65th anniversary celebration and Summer of Sports campaign, which is dedicated to highlighting women athletes.
Bird will join Alexa Moreno, Mary Fowler, Christine Sinclair, Estelle Mossely, Federica Pellegrini, Susana Rodriguez, Ewa Swoboda and Venus Williams as athletes who are part of the initiative. Bird’s doll is the only one available for purchase.
“I grew up playing with Barbies so it’s kind of a surreal moment when something like this happens,” Bird told People.
Bird noted that there weren’t any dolls that represented athletes when she was a child and hopes that the doll will inspire children who aspire to be athletes.
“This is going to have that impact of ‘seeing it and being it,'” Bird said. “You want to leave an impact that isn’t just defined by winning and losing.
“Now little girls and boys are going to see a professional women’s basketball player in the form of a Barbie and they’re going to…
