[25] Her fifth-grade yearbook lists her potential future careers as a lawyer, doctor, and professional soccer player.

In the second season, her team finished undefeated and won the New York state championship, and the national title.

[30] She participated in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association High School All-America Game, scoring 11 points.

[25] In her sophomore season (1999–2000), she returned to lead the team to a 36–1 record, the Big East Championship, and the 2000 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament.

Bird was a member of the inaugural class (2006) of inductees to the University of Connecticut women's basketball "Huskies of Honor" recognition program.

[39] From 2002 (rookie season) to 2022 (retirement), she made a record 13 appearances playing in the Western Conference All-Star team.

[42][43] The others are Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, Tamika Catchings, Brittney Griner and fellow Huskies Swin Cash, Kara Wolters, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Asjha Jones.

[44] Also in Game 1 of the 2010 WNBA Finals, Bird hit a game-winning jump shot with 2 seconds left to put the Storm up 79–77 and would later sweep the series.

She averaged 12.8 ppg while shooting a career-high in 3-point field goal percentage and led the league in assists with 5.8 apg.

With the addition of Stewart and Loyd quickly developing into a star player, the Storm made it back to the playoffs for the first time in 3 years with a 16–18 record.

With the WNBA's new playoff format in effect, the Storm were the number 7 seed in the league and faced the Atlanta Dream in the first round, losing the single elimination game 94–85.

[55][56] However, she returned on May 21, 2017, following her recovery and made her season debut, making her both the oldest active player and starter in the WNBA.

During her term, Bird was a part of the leadership that navigated the WNBA during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020[73] and negotiated with the league on how to play the game safely with other teams.

As the MNBA worked on the players' contracts, they were united in prioritizing activism and listed their use of social justice messages during games as a top "nonnegotiable".

Consequently, Bird's presidency is credited with the WNBA allowing the players to express social justice messages, for example, on jerseys, basketball courts, and immediate floors.

[84] In the semi-finals, they would sweep the Minnesota Lynx in three games, advancing back to the WNBA Finals for the second time in three years.

[91] On July 23, 2023, Bird's number 10 jersey was retired by the Seattle Storm during a ceremony at Climate Pledge Arena and attended by team owners and former teammates Swin Cash and Lauren Jackson.

[96] In 2002, Bird was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in Zhangjiagang, Changzhou, and Nanjing, China.

[99] In 2006, Bird was invited back to the National team for the World Championships held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in September 2006.

With Lisa Leslie and Dawn Staley retiring and Sheryl Swoopes sidelined by injuries, Bird, Candace Parker, and Diana Taurasi stepped up to leading roles on the national team.

[100] In the summer of 2008, Bird once again qualified for the Olympic basketball team, which won the 2008 gold medal in Beijing, China.

[101] Bird was invited to the USA Basketball Women's National Team training camp for the 2010 World Championship in the fall of 2009.

[104][105][106] In non-Olympic seasons, the WNBA normally holds the annual All-Star game between top players in the Eastern and Western Conferences.

Several players shared scoring honors, with Swin Cash, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi, Lindsay Whalen, and Sylvia Fowles all ending as high scorers in the first few games.

[110] In 2014, Bird played for Team USA during the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women, in which they defeated Spain 77–64 to win the gold medal.

[111][112] In 2018, Bird once again qualified for Team USA during the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup held in Spain.

[113] On July 23, 2021, in the lead-up to her quest for her fifth gold medal, Bird carried the U.S. flag at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Summer Olympics.

[115] Bird publicly came out as a lesbian on July 20, 2017, revealing that she had been dating soccer player Megan Rapinoe for several months after the two met at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

[120] In 2022, Bird became a part-owner of National Women's Soccer League franchise NJ/NY Gotham FC as a minority investor in the club.

Along with her investment, Bird is required to be an advisor to the league, assisting to promote the club at all market levels—local, national, and international.