Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird

Episode: Gabby Williams on Doing It All For the Storm & the France National Team, Plus Sue's Playoff Preview

Date: September 12, 2025
Host: Sue Bird
Guest: Gabby Williams

Episode Overview

This episode offers a twofold experience: a candid interview with Seattle Storm star and French national teamer Gabby Williams, and Sue Bird’s in-depth preview of the upcoming WNBA playoffs. The conversation with Gabby traces her journey from a multi-sport phenom in Nevada to dual WNBA and French national team standout.
Sue and her co-host (likely Melanie or Tommy) also break down each playoff series, share insider perspectives, and highlight the unique drama of this WNBA postseason.

1. Sue’s Playoff Preview & Discussion

[01:11–24:45]

WNBA Playoffs: Series-by-Series Breakdown

• General Context:
  • Rare level of parity: “I don't think it's ever gone down to the last day like this… It was like every spot except for two were set.” (Sue, 01:11)

Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury

• Key Insight:
  • Stopping transition will be vital.
  • Phoenix has thrived by causing turnovers (average 17.5); Liberty must avoid playing sped-up and out of sync.
  • “If you look up that box score at the end of a game and, and you see the Liberty have like, four, five, six players in, like, low double figures, that's a great night.” (Sue, 04:50)
• X-Factor:
  • Monique Billings for Phoenix: “She’s been their X factor pretty much the whole season.” (Other host, 05:49)
  • Rookies facing playoff intensity and game-planning.

Golden State vs. Minnesota Lynx

• David vs. Goliath Narrative:
  • Minnesota’s statistical dominance: “Minnesota’s first in offensive rating, defensive rating, net rating, 3-0 in the season series.” (08:14)
  • Golden State needs to “make the game weird.”
• On upsets:
  • “The one thing Golden State has certainly proven is they know how to…beat top teams in the league.” (10:45)
• Notable Moment:
  • Shout-out to Nafisa Collier: first player in W history to average 20 PPG at a 50/40/90 clip.
  • Inside debate: Does missing games hurt MVP candidacy more than late-season dominance?

Fever vs. Atlanta

• Parity & Grit:
  • Both teams changed much since early-season matchups.
  • Atlanta has the edge, but Indiana’s “grit” and Kelsey Mitchell’s scoring are wild cards.
• Observations:
  • “This might be the first time in WNBA history…does anyone really have an advantage over anyone?” (Sue, 17:09)
• Player Milestone:
  • Alicia Gray: first guard in WNBA history to be Player of the Month three times in one season.

Aces vs. Storm

• Streak Narrative:
  • Las Vegas Aces come in with a 16-game win streak—second longest in WNBA history.
  • “There is this weird thing I have happening in the back of my head…at some point, the Aces are going to lose.” (Sue, 20:56)
• Dangerous Underdogs:
  • “If that streak breaks immediately against the Storm and the Storm start getting confidence, now it's like, ‘whoa.’ That's kind of scary.” (Sue, 21:02)
• On team evolution:
  • “Stop judging new teams in the first five minutes of their season…It takes time.” (Sue, 23:38)

2. Gabby Williams: The Interview

[25:11–95:54]

Early Life and Multisport Upbringing

• French American Roots:

  • “A lot of people think I’m born in France…no, I’m born and raised in the States. My mom’s mom is from Paris…they moved to the tiniest town in Nevada.” (Gabby, 28:24)
  • Only sibling fluent in French due to living with her grandmother.

• Athletic Beginnings:

  • Basketball chosen by her dad, but Gabby fell in love with track on her own.
  • “I got really good at track…then I got hurt and had to just do one sport.” (Gabby, 30:01)

• Track Stardom:

  • At 15, Gabby nearly made the US Olympic team for high jump; fifth at Olympic qualifiers.
  • Couldn’t compete at Junior Olympics due to age.
  • “I was just soaking in the moment ‘cause I was such a fangirl of all the high jumpers.” (32:52)

Choosing Basketball Over Track

• Life-changing Injury:
  • Tore her ACL, which ultimately pushed her toward basketball and UConn.
  • “That was my last track meet ever.” (Gabby, 34:23)
• Collegiate Recruiting:
  • Considered Louisville, Kentucky, Stanford, but wanted to experience the world.
  • Chose UConn for championship aspirations.

College at UConn

• The Grind & The Lessons:
  • “Every year was such a completely different story…it was just a grind.” (Gabby, 40:06)
  • Coach Auriemma’s tough love: “You’re a mediocre player when you’re not playing as hard as you can…but you could be one of the best in the world.” (38:37)
• Impact of Playing with Greatness:
  • “I got a wake-up call of like, you’re not that good, actually. These guys are the standard…seeing how they responded to challenges made me better.” (Gabby, 42:24)

Pro Career: Adapting, Versatility & Identity

• Chicago Years—“The Duct Tape Player”:
  • Moved between positions 3, 4, and point guard; "a lot of my ambitions dwindled…I was just surviving.” (Gabby, 48:22)
• Transformation Overseas:
  • Hungarian club Sopron unlocked her game as an aggressive 2/3; led to French national team.
  • “That year in Chopran was huge for me…led me to the Olympics and everything.” (Gabby, 49:21)
• Road to Team France:
  • Initially, French federation wary; eventually, Gabby is “given the keys” at the Olympics.
  • “I started thinking about legacy and what kind of player I want to be.” (93:55)

French National Team & International Experience

• Olympic Moments:
  • Relished pressure situations (ex: US-France Olympic group game).
  • “I love those kind of big moments. I was so excited to play against the States.” (51:53)
  • Japan in Tokyo 2021 and the unique challenge of their style; the emotional bronze medal.
• FIBA vs. WNBA:
  • “FIBA is a lot more physical…makes me more tired. The games are like an hour and a half of just, like, a sprint.” (55:39)
  • European season structure and commitments drive “hard decisions” for international players.

WNBA Prioritization, Pay Equity, and the Future

• Being Vocal on Pay and Prioritization:
  • “You want me to choose [WNBA over Europe]? Cool. But you gotta pay me for that choice.” (62:11)
  • Hopes higher WNBA pay will one day mean players don’t need to play two seasons.
• Perspective on Young French Players:
  • “Their development is great…but they need to come to the States to keep going—a real-life competition.” (64:27)
• What’s Next for European & US Women’s Hoops:
  • “So much is changing so fast…when it starts to affect Team USA, I'm interested to see how the WNBA handles it.” (83:15)

Seattle Storm: Growth, Fit, & Fan Community

• Immediate Impact of the Organization:
  • Contrast with Chicago: “I have my own locker… I’m like, blown away by everything.” (66:30)
  • Playing alongside talent like Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith.
  • “Neka and Skyler make me feel like the best player ever…Yeah, I’m shooting this shit, honestly.” (88:11)
• Seattle Fans and Community:
  • “The fans love us through everything…they love us during the bad games, too.” (88:44)
  • Sue Bird parallels her own experience: “The fans stayed the whole time…standing ovation as the season’s ending. That is Seattle.” (89:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Versatility as Value:
  • “You know when you see, like, the duct tape that closes the leaks? That's what I felt like…I loved being that…but it was, like, defeating because…what do I do well? Who am I?” (Gabby, 48:22)
• On Facing Hard Choices and Growth:
  • “Choosing national team has had the biggest impact on my life. I'm not even…I speak more French than English now.” (Gabby, 93:55)
• Summing Up Her All-Star Selection:
  • “It meant that I was right. I made the right decisions…It was all worth it.” (Gabby, 93:11)
• On Defense and Team Impact:
  • “I really study; I really try to focus on scout…I'm taking a lot of risks on defense, too…But, yeah, a lot of it is coach in my head telling me that if I’m not going as hard as I can, I'm average, too, honestly.” (Gabby, 72:12)
  • Sue adds: “You cover up other people's mistakes, and I don't even think people see it…you actually raise the level of your team's play.” (73:00)
• On Comfort and Ultimately Feeling at Home:
  • “Just go somewhere where you go to work and you smile every day and you feel good…if you’re happy, you play better, life is better.” (Gabby, 95:11)

3. Timestamps of Key Segments

• Playoff Preview: 01:11–24:45
• Gabby Williams Interview Start: 25:11
• Heritage, Upbringing & Track Stardom: 27:34–34:31
• College at UConn: 37:46–43:44
• WNBA/Overseas Journey: 46:01–50:23
• Tokyo Olympics & French Team: 50:23–56:09
• Prioritization/Pay Debates: 62:10–66:17
• Seattle Storm Impressions: 66:22–70:16
• Defense Discussion: 72:12–74:04
• All-Star Call Story: 90:45–93:06
• Final Reflections: 93:11–95:54

Takeaways For New Listeners

• WNBA's 2025 playoffs are as competitive and unpredictable as ever; Sue’s breakdown offers both tactical and emotional insight into each matchup—with special focus on parity and “X-factor” performers.
• Gabby Williams’ evolution from Nevada “track wonder” to WNBA and French national team centerpiece is driven by adaptability, resilience, and a willingness to take risks (on and off the court).
• Her candid reflections on the international women’s basketball ecosystem, pay inequity, and the constraints posed by league priorities give valuable context to ongoing player debates.
• Seattle and its fans are painted as unusually loyal and embracing, reinforcing why Gabby feels she’s found the perfect basketball home.
• Throughout, listeners get rare honesty about regret, forging one’s own path, and the power of embracing challenges and change.

For fans of women’s basketball, this episode is a wide-ranging, energetic, and deeply human portrait—of both a “French Army Knife” player, and a league in the midst of fascinating evolution.