Sue Bird just made UConn women's basketball history with major achievement

Micah Adams

•
Sue Bird just made UConn women's basketball history with major achievement image

More than two decades after suiting up for UConn for the final time, Sue Bird just made more history for women's college basketball's most storied program.

On Sunday and coinciding with World Basketball Day, FIBA's Basketball Hall of Fame announced that Bird is one of eight members of the Class of 2026, to be enshrined April 21 in Berlin. Honoring individuals who have made significant global contributions to the sport, the FIBA Hall of Fame includes over 200 members from 45 countries.

Bird, one of the most decorated international basketball players of all-time, won five Olympic gold medals and four FIBA World Championships with Team USA and is the nation's all-time assist leader. In addition to her four WNBA championships, Bird also won five EuroLeague titles, two Europe SuperCup titles and five Russian National League titles.

MORE: Celebrating Sue Bird's most iconic moments and stats

All of this, of course, on the heels of a historic run at UConn where she won two national championships and swept the national player of the year awards as a senior.

UConn has long been a pipeline for Team USA with Bird, Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Rebecca Lobo, Kara Wolters and Breanna Stewart, among the many former Huskies to represent the United States on the global stage.

Although legendary coach Geno Auriemma was inducted in 2022, up until now no former UConn women's basketball player has been inducted (though six-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi, who retired from international play in 2024, will surely hear her name called soon).

MORE: Dirk Nowitzki, Sue Bird headline FIBA HOF Class of 2026

What is the FIBA Hall of Fame?

The FIBA Hall of Fame, not to be confused with the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, honors individuals who have made significant global contributions to the sport.

Created in 2007 and originally located in Alcobendas, Spain, the FIBA Hall of Fame is now located in the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball in Mies, Switzerland. It includes over 200 Hall of Famers from 45 countries and five continents.

Full list of FIBA Hall of Fame members

Here is a full list of contributors enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Class of 2025

Class of 2024

Class of 2023

Class of 2022

Class of 2021

Class of 2020

Class of 2019

Class of 2017

Class of 2016

Class of 2015

Class of 2013

Class of 2010

Class of 2009

Class of 2007 - September

Class of 2007 - MARCH

Managing Editor

News Correspondent