Long Island basketball legend Sue Bird set to score big at Sundance

Long Island native and pro basketball legend Sue Bird is set to take the annual Sundance Film Festival by storm this week.

The recently retired 19-year WNBA legend from Syosset gave filmmakers full access to document her final season with the Seattle Storm in 2022 and her record-setting fifth Olympic gold medal, as well as life with her fiancé, soccer superstar Megan Rapinoe; her retirement plans; and her efforts toward achieving social justice.

The end result is “Sue Bird: In the Clutch,” a full-length documentary that makes its world premiere in Utah during Sundance’s 40th edition, which begins Thursday and runs until Jan. 28. The 98-minute film is among the 91 projects that will be screened at the film festival.

Considered the most successful point guard in women’s basketball history, Bird, 43, played her entire WNBA career with Seattle, and also played professionally in Russia during the WNBA offseason. She won championships with the Storm in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020.

Bird also captured two NCAA national championships while playing at Connecticut and four FIBA World Cup titles with the U.S. national team.

In the documentary, Sarah Dowland, an Emmy Award-winning director, intertwines Bird’s remarkable success on the court with her off-court pursuits. The portrayal showcases how the mega-star athlete leverages her influential platform to draw crucial attention to the obstacles and issues confronted by women in today’s sports arena.

“Sue Bird: In the Clutch” will screen on six nights from Jan. 21-25 and Jan. 27. The last show has already sold out.

The documentary is produced by Oscar winner Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions and Jay Ellis’s Black Bar Mitzvah.

June 2022: New York is first stop in Bird’s retirement tour

In her 21-year professional career, WNBA basketball legend Sue Bird has won five Olympic gold medals and become the most successful point guard to ever play the game. Alongside her fiancée, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe, Sue confronts her next challenge: retiring from the only life she’s ever known. World Premiere. Documentary. 

This feature-length documentary delves into the inspiring journey of Sue Bird, renowned as the most accomplished Point Guard in women’s basketball history. The film intricately weaves her on-court triumphs with her off-court endeavors, showcasing how she skillfully uses her influential platform to bring critical attention to the challenges and issues female athletes face in the modern sports arena.

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