Overview

• Sue Bird, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, has been appointed as the first-ever managing director of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team.
• This newly created role replaces the previous committee-based structure for selecting players and coaching staff, aligning the women’s program with the men’s governance model.
• Bird’s four-year term will focus on preparing the team for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
• USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley highlighted Bird’s leadership, experience, and deep understanding of the sport as key assets for the role.
• The women’s national team remains dominant on the global stage, with eight consecutive Olympic gold medals and an unbeaten record in major tournaments since 2006.