For a long time, Sue Bird was the one making plays on the court as a point guard. Now, she’s stepping into a new role, guiding the U.S. women’s basketball team from a different vantage point.
On Thursday, Bird was named the inaugural managing director for the national women’s basketball team.
In the past, selections for women’s varsity rosters and coaching staff were managed by a committee. With Bird at the helm, she’ll be responsible for these choices, starting with next year’s World Cup in Berlin.
“I know what my background offers and what I can bring to the table, but I know there’s still a lot for me to learn,” Bird mentioned during a press conference held at Nike’s NYC headquarters. “Sometimes, I want to bounce ideas off others, to get different perspectives on my experiences.”
A five-time Olympic champion, Bird initially felt hesitant about the role when approached by U.S. basketball after her retirement in 2022.
Grant Hill, who occupied a similar role for the men’s team from 2021 to 2024, had been encouraging her to join the executive wing of USA Basketball for quite some time, which she described as an “annoying brother” dynamic.
However, as time passed, Bird gradually began to shift her perspective. “The specific time frames are a bit hazy, but I hadn’t been retired long and was still in a player’s mindset,” she said. “The thought of selecting a team felt strange—I didn’t want to be involved. Talking with Grant really helped me rethink my stance.”
Brenna Stewart, a star player for the Liberty and a former teammate of Bird’s in Seattle, believes Bird is an excellent choice for this position. “She not only played, but she truly understands the player’s viewpoint and always has the big picture in mind,” Stewart commented after practice.
Stewart has her sights set on representing Team USA again at next year’s World Cup, with an eye toward the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
Bird sees her new role coming at a time when the national team is brimming with young talent. She is open to bringing in players like Caitlyn Clark and Paige Bueckers into the women’s national team pool ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
She added that American basketball presents an “uncomfortable” scenario for players due to limited practice time and potentially altered roles on the court.
