Sue Bird named first managing director of USA Women’s National Team

WNBA legend Sue Bird has been named managing director of the USA Women’s National Team, the program announced Thursday.

Bird, 44, will be the first ever to hold the position in the team’s nearly half-century-long history. In her new role, she will identify members of the team’s coaching staff and players for major international contests. This includes everything from the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles to the program’s training camps over the next three years.   

“It’s a huge honor to be named managing director of USA Basketball’s Women’s National Team,” Bird said in a statement. “Representing the United States has been one of the greatest privileges of my life, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to support the next generation as they carry that legacy on. I’m excited to take on this new role and to work alongside the USA Basketball staff and Board of Directors as we prepare for this upcoming chapter of USA Basketball.” 

Team USA is the most dominant program in women’s basketball history. The group has 10 Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles and has not lost a game on either stage since 2006.

Bird herself is no stranger to the team’s excellence, having won five Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles. Since debuting at the 2000 Jones Cup, an international basketball tournament that took place in Taipei, Taiwan, Bird has a 162-9 record across more than a dozen different USA Basketball teams.

USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley called Bird “one of the most respected people in the basketball community.”

“Having known Sue for many years, I’m confident her leadership and knowledge will be a huge asset to the continued success of our women’s national team program,” he said in a statement, “and we’re excited to have her join us as we head towards the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.” 

Outside of the national team, Bird’s iconic WNBA career spanned more than two decades. 

Drafted No. 1 overall by the Seattle Storm out of Connecticut in 2002, she went on to become a 13-time WNBA All-Star, win four championships and set the record for most career assists.

Bird, who retired in 2022, will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September.