Analysis: In replacing Sue Bird, could Kelsey Plum or Courtney Vandersloot answer a call from the Storm?

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Seattle Storm will have to plan on a future without Sue Bird, their quintessential point guard who plans to retire at the end of the season.

Since her arrival in the 2002 WNBA draft as the No. 1 overall pick, the 41-year-old star has become synonymous with the 22-year-old franchise while playing 19 seasons over 21 years.

Together, they’ve won four league championships (2004, 2010, 2018 and 2020), two conference titles and the 2021 inaugural WNBA Commissioner’s Cup.

Bird, who sat out 2013 and 2019 due to knee injuries, has started in each of her 615 games, including playoffs, while compiling a 353-262 overall record. The 5-foot-9 playmaker has played in 78% of the Storm’s all-time games and 84.2% of the team’s wins.

Before the Storm raise her No. 10 jersey to the rafters, build her a statue outside Climate Pledge Arena and possibly rename a street Sue Bird Pass, they’ll need to do what was once unthinkable and find another point guard to lead Seattle.

“We’re never going to replace Sue Bird,” coach Noelle Quinn succinctly said. “We can cross that bridge when it comes.”

Seattle (10-6) has won five of six games and still has WNBA championship aspirations.

But when the season ends in September, the Storm will be in the market for Bird’s replacement.

Considering Bird’s backup, 35-year-old Briann January – the former Lewis and Clark High School standout – has said this will be her last year in the WNBA and repeatedly has refused to change her mind, Seattle will likely need to look elsewhere for its next point guard.

Here’s a look at a few possible candidates to replace Bird.

Courtney Vandersloot, Chicago Sky

Analysis: The 33-year-old Kent, Washington, native who starred at Gonzaga University reportedly met with the Storm in the offseason and discussed plans to finish her brilliant WNBA career at home.

If anyone has the cache to fill Bird’s shoes, it’s Vandersloot, who is fourth on the WNBA’s all-time assist list at 2,278 behind Bird (3,118), Tina Penicheiro (2,600) and Lindsay Whalen (2,348).

Vandersloot, who has led the league in assists in each of the last five seasons, is second this season at 7.0. She’s also averaging 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

Vandersloot helped Chicago to its first WNBA title last year, but the two sides engaged in a prolonged contract negotiations during offseason before she signed a one-year deal.

Vandersloot has several ties to the Storm, including assistant Pokey Chatman, who was her former Sky head coach, and Breanna Stewart, her teammate with the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg.

It should be noted, Vandersloot and her wife Allie Quigley are believed to be a package deal and both are unrestricted free agents.

Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces

Analysis: This might be the most favorable scenario for Seattle-area fans who watched the former Washington Huskies star set the NCAA all-time scoring record and carry UW to three NCAA tournaments, including the 2016 Final Four. It’s still somewhat inexplicable that Washington hasn’t retired her No. 10 jersey.

Admittedly, Plum, the No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick in 2016, struggled her first three years in the league. Last year, she won the league’s Sixth Woman of the Year award and captured an Olympic gold medal with the U.S. 3×3 women’s basketball team.

This season, the 27-year-old Plum is second in the WNBA in scoring (20.1 points per game), tied for fourth in assists (5.9) and will likely be selected to her first WNBA All-Star Game.

Plum is an unrestricted free agent after the season, but Las Vegas could use its core designation to retain her.

Others: Jordin Canada, Kiana Williams, Jade Melbourne.