Basketball

Diana Taurasi, Mercury bids farewell to Sue Bird with custom shoes

20 years ago, a UConn sophomore named Diana Tarasi watched her senior point guard, Sue Bird, end her college career. Now, with both players’ status more than cemented as WNBA legends, they’re doing the same with Bird’s professional career.

Taurasi and the Birds took the court for the final time in the regular season on Friday, with the Birds Seattle Storm visiting the Phoenix Mercury, and you better believe Taurasi and the Mercury had a gift ready.

Gift: A pair of custom Air Jordans.

The game was a little less favorable for the Bird as Torasi dropped 28 points to lead the Storm 94-78. Bird finished with two points and five assists, shooting 1-for-1 from the field.

Bird and Taurasi could still play against each other if their teams advance to the playoffs, with the finals set for Friday. The Storm still sit at 17-10, but the 12-16 Mercury is on the bubble with eight games after Friday.

The former UConn duo wasn’t the only storyline on Friday, though. There was also Storm center Tina Charles, who returned to the Mercury after calling it quits and signing with the Storm and former Arizona State and former Mercury sharpshooter Brian January visiting her old state.