For select imagery of USA Basketball women's national team managing director Sue Bird, click here (courtesy USA Basketball).
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (May 8, 2025) – Five-time Olympic gold medalist and 13-time WNBA All-Star Sue Bird will be the first managing director of the USA Women’s National Team, USA Basketball announced today.
"It’s a huge honor to be named managing director of USA Basketball’s Women’s National Team. 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.”
With her appointment, which was approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors, Bird will be responsible for identifying the USA Women’s National Team coaching staff and players for major international competitions, including the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, and the program’s training camps over the next three years.
“Sue is one of the most respected people in the basketball community,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. “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, 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.”
Considered one of the greatest dynasties in team sports, the USA Women’s National Team, which has 11 World titles and 10 Olympic gold medals, has not lost an Olympic or FIBA Women’s World Cup game since 2006.
“We are very excited that Sue Bird will join USA Basketball as our USA Women's National Team managing director,” USA Basketball Board of Directors chairperson and retired Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said. “Possessing both comprehension and character, Sue is the perfect person to lead our program at the upcoming World Cup in Berlin and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.”
Bird, a 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, is a five-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) and four-time World champion (2002, 2010, 2014, 2018). She compiled a 162-9 record with more than a dozen different USA Basketball teams since debuting at the 2000 Jones Cup. Bird was also a member of the USA Select Team that scrimmaged against the USA Women’s National Team in 2000 prior to the 2000 Olympic Games. During her final Olympic appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Games, she had the honor of leading Team USA into the Opening Ceremony.
The New York native led a storied WNBA career, winning four WNBA titles over nearly 20 years with the Seattle Storm. Bird additionally had success abroad, capturing five EuroLeague titles. At the University of Connecticut, Bird won multiple player of the year honors in 2002 and led the Huskies to two NCAA titles (2000, 2002).
Bird ranks first in WNBA history with 580 games, where she totaled 6,803 points, 1,466 rebounds and 3,234 assists.
A press conference to announce the news at Nike's NYHQ can be viewed live on www.youtube.com/@usabasketball today at 11 a.m. ET.
If interested in covering this event, please email Michael Terry (mterry@usabasketball.com) or Renee Felton (rfelton@usabasketball.com).