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WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi wrestled over the ball, then jokingly argued over who had possession

May 17, 2022, 05:34 IST
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Sue Bird (right) defends against Diana Taurasi.Abbie Parr/Getty Images
  • Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi faced off for the 59th time in their esteemed WNBA careers on Saturday.
  • The league legends and longtime BFFs got tied up and wrestled for the ball while they were mic'd up.
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Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi know each other's games better than anyone else.

The WNBA legends and longtime best friends started out as teammates for Geno Auriemma's UConn Huskies and continued to play side-by-side with Team USA, with whom they won a record five Olympic gold medals. But once they graduated to the pros, the pair sparked a fierce rivalry between Bird's Seattle Storm and Taurasi's Phoenix Mercury.

Taurasi (left) and Bird pose with their fifth Olympic gold medal.Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Eighteen seasons and 59 head-to-head matchups later, they're still trying to figure out how to stop the other. Bird has become the WNBA's all-time leader in assists en route to four titles, while Taurasi has assumed the league's unofficial GOAT title as its all-time points leader and a three-time champion.

The most recent iteration of their friendly rivalry — which took place Saturday at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena — was a back-and-forth thriller that came down to the wire. With just under five minutes remaining in the contest and one point separating their two teams, the women's basketball icons found themselves tied up while going after the ball.

Taurasi (left) hugs Bird.AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

As the refs blew the whistle for a jump ball, a mic'd up Bird could be heard shouting, "No!" She wanted the steal, while Taurasi clearly wanted a foul call. Moments later, the superstars squabbled as each claimed with confidence that "I had the ball!"

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"And then you fouled me, and you got the ball," Taurasi said.

"No," Bird insisted, then pointed at her friend of more than 20 years. "You grabbed me and fouled my arm."

"No way!" Taurasi said, shaking her head.

Taurasi (left) and Bird squabble after getting tangled up over the ball.Abbie Parr/Getty Images

Taurasi — who boasts a three-inch height advantage over Bird — went on to win the jump ball, and her Mercury later won the game 69-64. And even though there are countless incredible moments borne out of their longtime rivalry, Bird's and Taurasi's on-court bantering may be among the most hilarious captured on camera.

Check out the version featured on the broadcast:

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And the one where you can hear their conversation:

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