Sue Hen receives MASSIVE ovations because the WNBA legend has her jersey retired by the Seattle Storm 

WNBA and UConn legend Sue Hen as soon as once more was the focus as she graced the Seattle Storm’s house courtroom because the workforce retired the No. 10 jersey that she wore all through her profession on Sunday.

The occasion pushed practically three hours in whole size with Hen´s speech taking over greater than half that quantity. But it surely was the excellent closure that by no means materialized after Hen´s profession ended within the 2022 WNBA playoffs.

‘I didn´t anticipate it being that lengthy, however the reality is I don´t know that I might have taken something out,’ Hen mentioned afterward.

‘That´s what this has meant to me. It was simply so vital for me to say names and to level folks out and to inform them what they´ve meant.’

From Hen´s fiancée Megan Rapinoe and hip-hop star Macklemore serving as emcees, to former teammates Swin Money and Lauren Jackson giving heartfelt speeches, the occasion was Seattle´s alternative to embrace Hen as soon as extra.

WNBA legend Sue Hen had her jersey retired by the Seattle Storm on Sunday afternoon

Hen’s No. 10 jersey was raised into the rafters at Local weather Pledge Enviornment earlier than a sport vs Wash.

And for Hen to share her due to former coaches, teammates, household, mates and followers who watched her win 4 WNBA titles and 5 Olympic gold medals and turn into the usual by which all different level guards are judged.

‘That´s what has made this all so great. To really feel seen and protected right here, whether or not it was with the ball in my arms on the ground, or me out in the neighborhood, I might all the time be my ever-evolving self,’ Hen mentioned towards the conclusion of her speech. ‘As I´ve mentioned, Seattle wasn´t all the time house, however that´s precisely what it turned.’

Hen´s quantity was the second retired by the franchise, becoming a member of Jackson´s No. 15 hanging within the rafters of Local weather Pledge Enviornment.

It was a weekend of celebration that began with a flag honoring Hen´s No. 10 being raised to the highest of the Area Needle within the rain on Thursday and ended with Hen again on the courtroom serving as the ground basic as soon as extra.

The ceremony was scheduled for roughly 45 minutes and lasted practically 4 instances longer. 

Hen spoke for the ultimate 90 minutes and whereas a few of the crowd thinned that confirmed up for Washington´s 71-65 win over Seattle that preceded the ceremony, many of the constructing nonetheless had seats stuffed by the point Hen completed.

‘That´s very uncommon that you just get to have these kind of moments, so it was actually particular for everybody who spoke to listen to what they needed to say,’ Hen mentioned.

The ceremony was what Hen didn´t get final season when her profession ended because the Storm misplaced within the WNBA semifinals to Las Vegas. Hen was honored after that final chapter of her profession got here to an abrupt conclusion with the playoff loss, but it surely didn´t have the closure that was introduced by Sunday´s occasion.

Teammates weaving the whole thing of Hen´s profession confirmed up, most notably Jackson who flew in from Australia for the weekend actions.

Hen was accompanied by fiancé US girls’s soccer legend Megan Rapinoe to the ceremony 

She was additionally pictured with Seattle native and award profitable hip-hop artist Macklemore 

‘She has been nothing wanting inspirational to me and everybody else,’ Jackson mentioned.

It was at instances emotional and had these concerned preventing again tears with speeches that stretched far past the allotted time. It was additionally partly a roast, particularly when Hen bought the microphone and had an opportunity to the touch on the completely different facets of her life, profession and influences.

There was an interlude the place Rapinoe led the group in a model of Tina Turner´s ‘The Greatest,’ and at last the No. 10 hanging above the courtroom.

‘Congratulations on, like, arguably the perfect profession anybody has had within the historical past of any sport. Ever,’ Rapinoe mentioned.