UConn legend Sue Bird is still trailblazing for women’s basketball even after retirement, becoming the first WNBA player to have a Barbie doll created in her likeness.
Mattel announced Tuesday that it is producing a Bird Barbie as a part of its 65th anniversary celebration, adding the former Seattle Storm point guard to its Role Model collection that will also feature nine other female athletes. Bird is one of three American athletes to have her Barbie in the collection, joining tennis superstar Venus Williams and Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi. Barbie previously partnered with the WNBA during its inaugural season in 1998 to produce basketball player dolls, and former UConn star Rebecca Lobo was featured on the box as the face of the campaign.
Hi Barbie
Barbie created the Sue Bird Role Model doll to celebrate Sue’s basketball legacy! pic.twitter.com/g1Pz3CLk8h
— UConn Women’s Basketball (@UConnWBB) July 16, 2024
Bird’s doll is designed with a non-traditional Barbie body known as ‘Made to Move’, which allows the knee and elbow joints to bend for more realistic athletic play. Mattel previously highlighted women’s sports with their 2023 Career of the Year collection that launched last September and included dolls representing a general manager, a referee, a coach and a sports reporter.
As part of the release for Bird’s Barbie, the company is collaborating with Voice In Sport, a digital platform that inspires girls to stay in sports through virtual mentorship programs and educational content. Mattel will also make a donation to Every Kids Sport, a nonprofit that provides grants to make youth sports accessible for low-income families.
“I’m just really excited that we’re going to be able to give back in that way,” Bird told People Magazine. “There’s going to be a tangible effect. The more you live, the more you realize there’s so much talent in the world, but there’s not always enough opportunity in the world. So this is a way where we can change that.”
Bird retired from the WNBA in 2022 after 20 seasons with the Storm as a four-time league champion, a 13-time All-Star and a five-time All-WNBA selection. She also helped lead Team USA to five consecutive Olympic gold medals and was an two-time NCAA champion at UConn from 1998-2002. Bird’s No. 10 jersey was retired by Seattle in 2023.
