It's official: Storm signs Bird to multiyear deal

In the longest formality in Storm history, the team announced the signing of point guard Sue Bird to a multiyear deal Friday.

Bird's pact is believed to be worth the league maximum of $93,000 for the first season. The number of years in her new contract was not revealed.

A WNBA All-Decade team member, Bird has spent her entire career in Seattle since leading the University of Connecticut through an undefeated season and national championship in 2002.

She has averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 assists in her six-year career, ranking fifth all-time among WNBA assist leaders (1,077). Last season was her worst, averaging 10.4 points and 4.9 assists. She also missed five games because of minor knee surgery.

Bird, 27, is playing in Russia with Storm teammate Lauren Jackson and said in an e-mail that she expects to return to Seattle by early May. She also will miss part of the Storm's training camp to participate in Team USA's camp in preparation for the Beijing Olympics.

Storm coach Brian Agler, also the club's director of player personnel, flew to Russia with CEO Karen Bryant to sign Bird and scout other players.

Bird's status had been "cored," meaning that she was unable to test the market as an unrestricted free agent. The team had to wait for the league to ratify a new collective-bargaining agreement in order to sign her. Bird, who owns a home in Queen Anne, has always said Seattle is where she wanted to play.

New teammates await her in Seattle, but she is already acquainted with signees Swin Cash and Sheryl Swoopes.

"I've played with both Sheryl and Swin [on the national team], so it won't be as difficult for me to learn my new teammates and hopefully because of that I can help make the adjustment for everyone a little smoother," Bird wrote in an e-mail. "A lot of how our team has changed is reminiscent of the 2004 season — it was only Anne [Donovan's] second year in Seattle and our entire roster was different. We all know how that ended."

The Storm won the championship in 2004.

Agler also hopes to announce the signing of center Janell Burse while overseas. Burse is playing in the Czech Republic.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067