Storm Exit Interviews: The word from Sue Bird

posted by Jayda Evans: Womens Hoops Blog
Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 5:48am EDT

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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Series note: The Storm conducted exit interviews on Thursday, giving me the opportunity to ask players everything from views on their season to fashion and hair tips. I'll post conversations from each in the upcoming days. Centers Ewelina Kobryn (Poland) and Ann Wauters (Belgium) won't be featured due to their quick return home. Here's a conversation with co-captain Sue Bird, who finished the regular-season leading the team in points (12.2) and assists (5.3).

Q: Dropping any bombs this offseason? Last year you let it be known you played the entire season with a hip labrum injury and needed surgery, do you need another procedure on the left hip?
Sue Bird: I'm having surgery Friday. (The Storm reported it was a successful procedure Friday morning and Bird has begun rehabilitation). This is literally like deja vu because it's the same exact thing, same exact place, almost the same exact timing. Then I'm going to go to my team (UMMC Ekaterinburg) overseas January 1. It's really pretty much the same, which is good. I know what to expect. I know how to get through it. And the best part is I know it's going to be successful. I'll never have to drop anymore bombs in regards to my hip. So, I'm very excited to put the hip stuff in the past because I've been dealing with it for a long time and this past month has been tough.

Q: In the past you said playing on it doesn't make the injury worse, right?
Bird: Yes and no. It's an interesting injury, I've come to learn that about it. It's basically 100 percent based on symptoms. So you have it -- you could have it -- and if you don't have symptoms, you're good. The minute it becomes symptomatic, that's when it becomes a problem. For me, my body is my job so I have to take care of it. The good thing about having this last year is that I have MRI's to go back on. So the doctor (Dr. Marc J. Philippon) took a look at my most recent MRI and said, 'Yeah, there's some progression there. It's gotten a little worse.' When you hear that, you realize you need to nip it in the bud.

Q: How is the rehab?
Bird: The rehab (last year) really wasn't that bad. I don't know if this is because I've had other surgeries, I mean the ACL rehab is very difficult. So, I compared it in my own little head. My rehab, you just take it step by step and nothing was too painful. It's just about hitting each milestone as you go and before you know it you're back on the court. It wasn't a painful thing and I'm hoping that'll be the same this time.

Storm Exit Interviews: The word from Sue Bird

2012 WNBA Season

Sue Bird

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