Sue Bird, a WNBA legend and five-time gold medalist, has been appointed as the first managing director of the USA Women’s National Team. In this historic role, Bird will be responsible for selecting American coaches and players for major international competitions. Excited about her new position, Bird expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to support the next generation of athletes as they carry on the legacy of representing the United States.
As the most dominant program in women’s basketball history, Team USA has an impressive record of 10 Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles. Despite their success, the pressure to maintain their winning streak remains constant. Bird acknowledges the challenges of the job, describing it as a “no-win situation” due to the high expectations placed on USA Basketball.
With her extensive experience as a player and her track record of success in international competitions, Bird is well-equipped to lead the women’s national team program. She plans to leverage her basketball knowledge and leadership skills to ensure the team’s continued success in upcoming tournaments, including the FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.
Having been approached by USA Basketball about the role a year ago, Bird is eager to step into this new challenge. While she may not have held a GM-like position before, Bird is confident in her abilities to make strategic decisions and assemble a winning team. Drawing on the guidance of USA Basketball veterans and her own on-court experience, Bird is poised to excel in her new role as managing director of the women’s national team program.
In addition to her national team duties, Bird has had a storied career in the WNBA, playing for the Seattle Storm for over two decades after being drafted No. 1 overall in 2002. Her appointment as managing director marks a new chapter in her basketball journey, where she will continue to contribute to the success of women’s basketball at the highest level.
After becoming a 13-time WNBA All-Star, winning four championships, and setting the record for most career assists, Bird retired in 2022. She will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September. Since retiring, she has kept busy with a popular podcast and taken on ownership roles with the Storm and the NWSL’s Gotham FC before announcing her latest challenge. Despite her jam-packed schedule, Bird expressed her enjoyment of being immersed in the world of basketball, which she knows well and doesn’t consider work. On the “TODAY” show, she jokingly remarked, “You know, retirement was boring.”
