A doll commemorating UConn star Sue Bird is made by Barbie as part of the 65th anniversary series….

A doll commemorating UConn star Sue Bird is made by Barbie as part of the 65th anniversary series….

Even after retiring, UConn star Sue Bird continues to pave the way for women’s basketball. She was the first WNBA player to have a Barbie doll made in her likeness. As part of its 65th anniversary celebration, Mattel revealed on Tuesday that it will be creating a Bird Barbie. The former point guard for the Seattle Storm will be included in the series of Role Model Barbies, which will also include nine other female athletes. Bird joins Olympic figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi and tennis player Venus Williams as the three American athletes with a Barbie in the collection. In 1998, when the WNBA was just getting started, Barbie collaborated with the league to create dolls resembling basketball players. The campaign’s face, Rebecca Lobo, a former star at the University of Connecticut, was displayed on the box.

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-