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WNBA Reacts to Big Sue Bird Announcement on Thursday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated May 8, 2025 10:40 AM ET

Sue Bird is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in women's basketball in the United States.

The former Seattle Storm star won four WNBA championships, most recently in 2020, and was selected to the WNBA All-Star Game 13 times.

From her early days at Christ the King High School, to her dominance at UConn and throughout her legendary WNBA career, Bird has been a constant force in the game. She was recently elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Now, she's taking on a new leadership role in the sport.

Bird was just named the first-ever managing director of the USA Basketball Women’s National Team.

The WNBA recognized the announcement on its official social media channels, posting:

MAJOR! Congrats @S10Bird

MAJOR! Congrats @S10Bird https://t.co/B0dHEi1WqI
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 8, 2025

Bird has had an illustrious international career as well. She’s a five-time Olympic gold medalist and has helped Team USA win four FIBA World Cup titles. Her new role is considered the women’s equivalent to Grant Hill’s position on the men’s side.

Before Hill, the men’s national team was led by Jerry Colangelo, a four-time NBA Executive of the Year.

This move marks the most significant leadership shift for the women's program since 2011, when longtime director Carol Callan stepped down. Briana Weiss, who took over day-to-day operations after Callan, will continue to play a key role alongside Bird.

One of Bird’s major tasks will be helping shape the Olympic roster. The previous selection process stirred controversy, notably for not including rising WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Under the new structure, mirroring the men’s process, Bird and the coaching staff will recommend a 12-player roster, which will then be approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.

The next major competition for the USA Women's National Team is the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which will take place in September 2026 in Germany.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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