The Seattle Storm will unveil a statue of WNBA legend Sue Chicken outdoors of Local weather Pledge Enviornment on August 17, the workforce introduced Wednesday, making Chicken the primary participant to be honored with a statue by a WNBA franchise.
One of the embellished gamers in basketball historical past, Chicken spent her complete 21-season profession with the Storm, whom she helped result in WNBA championships in 2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020. After retiring following the 2022 marketing campaign, Chicken turned a minority proprietor within the group.
“For over 20 years, town of Seattle supported me, each on and off the court docket. It is due to this group that Seattle will ceaselessly maintain a particular place in my coronary heart. This statue is not only for me, it is for anybody on the market hoping to someday pursue their passions and stay out their desires,” Chicken stated in an announcement. “I am grateful to the Storm and Seattle for this honor, and may’t wait to rejoice with my household, pals and our superb followers this August.”
Save the date 📅🐦
📰 https://t.co/ZyRQ8FuHWm pic.twitter.com/eQgvGRBQac
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) July 2, 2025
The statue unveiling ceremony will happen the morning previous to the Storm’s Sunday afternoon tilt in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury — which the workforce is tabbing its “Perpetually Sue Recreation” — and can function remarks from Chicken, Storm management, metropolis officers and extra. Chicken’s statue was created by Rotblatt Amrany Studio, the corporate behind the statues for Ken Griffey Jr., Edgar Martinez and Dave Niehaus at T-Cell Park, Lenny Wilkens at Local weather Pledge Enviornment and A’ja Wilson at South Carolina.
“Sue’s legacy is not simply written in championships–it’s woven into the material of Seattle,” Storm President and CEO Alisha Valavanis stated in an announcement. “Her management transcended basketball and helped form a cultural shift–one that expanded who will get to steer, who will get seen and who will get celebrated.”
“Immediately, as the primary WNBA franchise to honor a participant with a statue, we rejoice not simply Sue’s illustrious profession, however the future she helped pave for the subsequent era of athletes. This statue is greater than a tribute. It is a promise that what Sue stands for will preserve rising, and younger folks, particularly women, will all the time see themselves in greatness,” Valavanis added.
Chicken — who earlier this 12 months was named the primary managing director of the USA Ladies’s Nationwide Workforce — was inducted into the Ladies’s Basketball Corridor of Fame final month and can be enshrined within the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame later this 12 months. The five-time Olympic gold medalist, 13-time WNBA All-Star and all-time WNBA assists chief had her quantity retired by the Storm in 2023.