Sue Bird Named USA Basketball Women’s Team Leader/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird has been appointed the first-ever managing director of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team. The new role gives Bird full authority over roster and coaching decisions, replacing the traditional selection committee process. Her four-year term will cover upcoming international competitions, including the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics.
Sue Bird’s New Role Quick Looks
- New Leadership: Bird is USA Basketball Women’s first managing director.
- Historic Shift: Replaces selection committee with single decision-maker model.
- Olympic Pedigree: Bird won five gold medals as a Team USA player.
- Parallel to Men’s Team: Mirrors role held by Grant Hill on the men’s side.
- Full Authority: She will choose players and coaches for the national squad.
- Next Milestones: 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and 2028 LA Olympics.
- Coaching Decision: Bird is already considering candidates, no timeline yet.
- Long-Term Vision: Role supports consistent team building between Olympics.
- USA Basketball CEO: Jim Tooley calls Bird “a tremendous leader.”
- Winning Culture: USA Women have won eight straight Olympic golds.
Deep Look: Sue Bird to Direct Future of USA Basketball Women’s Program
USA Basketball announced Thursday that Bird will become the first-ever managing director of the women’s national team, a major structural shift that hands control of roster and coaching decisions to a single trusted leader. Previously, selections were made by a rotating committee.
The move aligns the women’s program more closely with the men’s, where Grant Hill holds the same position, having succeeded Jerry Colangelo.
“I love representing my country,” Bird said in an interview with The Associated Press. “To have that opportunity again in a new role is exciting.”
Bird’s term will span four years, through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and includes overseeing the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany, as well as all qualification rounds starting this fall.
From Court to Command
Bird, 43, won five Olympic gold medals during her legendary run with Team USA and knows firsthand the pressure and precision it takes to win on the global stage. Now, she’ll bring that experience to shaping the team’s future.
“This is a different type of pressure,” she said. “The goal is to win a gold medal—there’s really no other option.”
Her appointment had been in the works since after the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, according to USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley, who said the decision was unrelated to recent controversies, such as the backlash over Caitlin Clark not being selected for the 2024 Paris Games.
“We are really, really excited about Sue,” Tooley said. “She brings unmatched credibility, leadership, and insight to this role.”
Coach Search Is Top Priority
One of Bird’s most immediate tasks is to name the next head coach of the U.S. women’s team, with no clear frontrunner yet identified.
“It’s without a doubt my top priority,” she said. “I’ve started jotting down names—college coaches, WNBA coaches—there’s no shortage of qualified candidates.”
Bird has not set a hard timeline but emphasized the need for a strategic, thoughtful decision as the team prepares for qualifiers in November.
A Model for Continuity
Unlike the traditional committee format, which often led to fragmented planning, Bird’s appointment enables a cohesive long-term vision for the women’s national program. It allows for consistent relationship-building with players, development of team culture, and early planning for each competition cycle.
Tooley noted that managing directors like Bird are crucial to sustaining Team USA’s gold standard:
“It’s hard to do that with a committee that only meets a few times a year.”
With the Paris 2024 Olympics in the rearview mirror and the countdown to the 2026 and 2028 tournaments already underway, Bird’s leadership comes at a pivotal moment.
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