- WNBA legend Sue Bird spent 10 seasons playing in Russia to supplement her income.
- Bird told "60 Minutes" that she made 10 times her first WNBA salary of $60,000 per year.
- Bird also noted it was a wild time that included her team's owner being murdered.
As WNBA superstar Brittney Griner remains jailed in Russia on a drug-smuggling charge, fellow star Sue Bird explained why she spent 11 years playing professionally in Russia for an owner who was once convicted of being a KGB spy.
Despite being the first pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft, Bird told "60 Minutes" that she made less than $60,000 per year early in her career. While she only plays stateside now, about to enter her 21st season, she spent a large part of her career playing overseas to supplement her income, like many WNBA players.
After two seasons playing in Europe, Bird says she was recruited to Spartak Moscow of the Euroleague by Russian billionaire Shabtai Kalmanovich.
Bird recalled the recruitment to CBS: "He was like, 'You know, I have a ton of money. And, you know, some people like to gamble. Some people like to buy cars. I like women's basketball. That's where I want to spend my money.'"
According to CBS, Kalmanovich paid Bird "10 times" what she made in the WNBA. When asked if the money was life-changing, Bird said it was.
"Absolutely," she said. "Like, I'm a millionaire because of it.
According to an episode of ESPN's "30 for 30" in 2019, Kalmanovich spoiled his players, and the perks went beyond salaries.
"Everything literally was first class," Bird told ESPN. "We're staying at the best hotels. We go to Paris; we're in like the bomb hotel in Paris."
According to teammate Diana Taurasi, they were also provided a "mini-mansion" with a pool and a spa. Kalmanovich even gave the American players his credit card to go on shopping sprees, telling the women to "get whatever you want."
"So you know automatically like, okay, can we spend $500? Can we spend a thousand?" Taurasi told ESPN. "And you know, you get nervous you have this adrenaline, where you're like, should I get this Louis Vuitton bag that's $3,000 which I would never buy? Yes, I will, and I'll get two of them, one for me and one for [my sister] Jessika Taurasi … We get in the car, and I mean we have what, like 25, 30 bags. I feel like we robbed a bank."
CBS described Kalmanovich as "a former KGB spy and businessman with a record of operating outside the law." He was also assassinated while Bird was still playing for the team.
According to the BBC, Kalmanovich spent five years in prison in Israel, convicted of being a KGB spy. After being released, he made his fortune in the African diamond trade.