STORRS, CT — UConn legend Sue Bird, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated figures in women’s basketball, has been appointed managing director of the USA Women’s National Basketball Team.
She will lead the program through the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycles, replacing the former committee-led structure with a centralized leadership role.
USA Basketball confirmed Thursday that the managing director position is newly created for the women’s program and modeled after the men’s national team framework, where Grant Hill currently serves in the same capacity.
“I played for USA Basketball for so long and always really enjoyed my time with them,” Bird said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. “I love representing my country. I love being competitive on that stage. To have that opportunity to do it in a different role is exciting.”
Bird’s appointment marks a major procedural shift for the women’s team.
Historically, rosters and coaching selections were determined by a rotating committee.
Now, Bird will take full responsibility for shaping the team’s personnel and long-term vision.
“We are really, really excited about Sue for so many reasons,” USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said. “Her pedigree and standing in the sport is so strong. Not just in women’s basketball, but all of sport. She’s a tremendous leader and we’re very excited that she took this on for us.”
Tooley emphasized that planning for this role began years ago. “Discussions happened after the ‘21 Olympics and Sue served on the board last quad,” he said. “We got in discussions about the managing director role and we sat with her awhile and she gave it a lot of consideration and thought. It’s an enormous responsibility.”
The role spans a full Olympic cycle, giving Bird authority over roster selection, coaching appointments, and competitive planning for events such as next year’s FIBA World Cup in Germany.
“She’s had five Olympic gold medals herself and understands what’s involved,” Tooley said. “Having the managing director position makes it easier to work with the staff for long term vision of the program. It’s hard to do that with a committee that comes and goes and gets together a handful of times.”
Bird, who rose to prominence under coach Geno Auriemma at the University of Connecticut before a 20-year career with the WNBA’s Seattle Storm, said she is prepared for the expectations that come with overseeing USA Basketball.
“This is a different type of pressure,” she said. “I’m hoping to bring all that I learned as a player, all my experience, all my understanding. The whole goal is to win a gold medal and it feels at times that’s the only option.”
One of her earliest responsibilities will be selecting the team’s next head coach. “Of course, I’ve started to think about it, jotting some names down here and there,” she said. “It’s the first priority without a doubt. There are so many qualified coaches in college and the WNBA.”
Bird did not specify a timeline for the coaching decision but confirmed the process is underway.
The first qualifying round for the FIBA World Cup is scheduled for November.
