LAST WORD

Sue came in and was just Sue Bird. I think that’s why she is who she is. Not only does she carry herself and compete in a certain way, she’s ready for big moments.”

Storm coach Dan Hughes on Seattle’s longest-tenured player, who rallied the team to victory Tuesday to advance to the WNBA Finals against the Mystics. Bird, wearing a protective mask as she played with a broken nose, scored 14 of her 22 points in a 5-minute stretch of the fourth quarter in the 94-84 win against the Mercury.