STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Sue Bird walked onto the court at Gampel Pavilion on Sunday to a rousing ovation just as she did in her four seasons as one of the best players in UConn women’s history.

The members of the top-ranked 2025-26 team stood on either side of the UConn legend as Bird came onto the court before a game against DePaul, this time without her famous UConn No. 10 jersey. A few minutes later, Bird joined classmate Swin Cash and Rebecca Lobo as the only UConn women’s basketball players to have their numbers retired.

“This is home, this is where it started,” said Bird, a member of the Naismith and Women's Basketball Hall of Fames . ‘It’s an incredible honor.”

Bird was a part of two national championship teams at UConn. Despite being limited to eight games as a freshman due to

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