After struggling in silence with the injury in the second half of the season, Sue Bird had successful surgery to repair the torn labrum in her left hip, replicating the same surgery the Seattle Storm star had a her right hip a year ago, the club said Friday.
Dr. Marc J. Philippon performed the surgery at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, CO., where she will remain through the weekend to begin a rehab program that is expected to take eight to 12 weeks.
“We’re excited as an organization that Sue came through her surgery successfully,” coach/GM Brian Agler said in a club statement. “Dr. Philippon said she must have been very courageous to have played through the injury. He is very optimistic the surgery went well. We look forward to seeing Sue at full health next season.
From her previous surgery, Bird recovered in time to play for a team in Russia by January.
“It’s really pretty much the same,” Bird said, “which is good because I know what to expect, I know how to get through it and the best part is I know it will be successful. I’m very excited to put the hip stuff in the past because I’ve been dealing with it for a long time and the last month was tough.”
The Storm’s season ended Tuesday with a 73-72 loss to the defending WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals. Bird averaged 16.3 points and 7.0 assists in the three-game series.
