Gold Standard: Sue Bird Named USA Women’s Basketball First Managing Director

By Barry Janoff

Photo: USA BasketballMay 8, 2025: Basketball Hall of Famer, iconic four-time champion WNBA player and five-time Olympic gold medalist.

Sue Bird can now add another achievement to her illustrious career.

USA Basketball today named Bird to the newly created position of managing director for the Women’s National Team in a four-year term.

Among her priorities: assembling the U.S. Women’s National Team roster and coaching staff for international competitions, including the 2026 FIBA World Cup and the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

"It’s a huge honor to be named managing director of USA Basketball’s Women’s National Team,” Bird said via USA Basketball.

“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.” 

The move follows USA Basketball naming Jimmer Fredette, the former No. 1 ranked 3x3 player in the world, as the first managing director for the USA 3x3 Men’s National Team.

Grant Hill has been managing director for the USA Men’s National Team since April 2021.

Taking on the role of managing director might be a precarious situation for Bird

The national team could potentially be loaded with young talent — Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, Flau-jae Johnson and Juju Watkins. But the Women’s National Team has won eight consecutive gold medals, most recently at the 2024 Paris Games — five with Bird as a player (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) — so anything less would be regarded as a setback.

The Women’s National Team has not lost an Olympic or FIBA Women’s World Cup game since 2006. 

“Sue is one of the most respected people in the basketball community,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said via the organization.

“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.”

Bird, a 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, compiled a 162-9 record with more than a dozen different USA Basketball teams since debuting at the 2000 Jones Cup.

During her final Olympic appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Games, she had the honor of leading Team USA into the Opening Ceremony.

Prior to being drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2002 by the Seattle Storm, where she won four WNBA championships (2004, 2020, 2018, 2020), at the University of Connecticut she won multiple player of the year honors and helped lead the Huskies to two NCAA titles (2000, 2002). 

“It’s really exciting. I know what it feels like to represent your country as a player. I know what it feels like to stand on the podium as a player,” Bird said.

“So now that I’m retired, to continue to be able to have impact, to continue to be a part of representing (the) country and part of a gold medal organization feels like a natural next step for me.” 

Back to Home Page