WNBA News: Sue Bird Eyes Record Fifth Gold In Tokyo Olympics, Not Retiring Soon

WNBA veteran Sue Bird, who turns 41 in October, does not plan to stop playing basketball anytime soon.

The all-time women's basketball great recently opened up to USA Today's Analis Bailey about her outlook for the current calendar year, and Bird has confirmed she wants to be in rare company.

"It's an Olympic year, so that's exciting. Obviously, I'm trying to make that team, but regardless, Olympic years, always have a different vibe and excitement to them," the Seattle Storm guard said.

Already a four-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016), Bird has a shot at a fifth gold medal if she gets selected for Team USA.

Should the United States win the women's basketball event in Tokyo, Bird will join legend Teresa Edwards as the only other player to win five Olympic gold medals.

Bird had 11 points and eight assists in the Storm's season-opening 97-83 win over the Las Vegas Aces last weekend, showing how focused she is when it comes to defending the franchise's title.

"I think I'm just looking forward to getting back out there on the court, trying to defend our title and seeing other great basketball being played because at the end of the day," she said. "As a basketball league, we're always going to be focused on that product, and I'm super excited to see everybody back out there simultaneously."

Bird has had a spectacular WNBA career spanning three decades now, winning four championships and being an 11-time All-Star.

The UConn product is also a two-time NCAA women's champion and a multiple-time EuroLeague and Russian League winner overseas.

Already the all-time leader in assists and career starts, Bird has nothing left to prove in the game, and yet she does not even discuss retirement—adding that her passion and love for the sport fuels her.

"I mean it's a pretty simple answer. It's just that I enjoy it. You know, not many people get to be as passionate as I am and have as much fun as I'm having when it comes to their job, you know?" Bird shared.

"And, I think as a professional athlete, that can be said for a lot of us and we're really lucky. So the way I see it, you know, I get paid to play a sport, I still enjoy it, I still love it. And honestly, even in the moments of defeat, they're still enjoyable parts."