USA Basketball is set to appoint Sue Bird, a five-time Olympic gold medalist and notable WNBA figure, as the managing director of the women’s national team as preparations intensify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. According to The Athletic, the announcement will occur on Thursday at Nike’s New York City headquarters, marking a significant shift in the organizational structure of USA Basketball.

In her new role, the 44-year-old Bird will undertake important duties, including the selection of Olympic and World Cup player rosters and coaching staff. This marks a departure from the traditional committee approach that has been used for roster selections. Previously, the 2024 Paris Olympics roster was chosen by a committee led by Jen Rizzotti, along with other key figures like Dawn Staley, Bethany Donaphin, and Dan Padover. In contrast, the men’s national team has implemented a managing director model since 2005, currently held by Grant Hill.

Team USA boasts an impressive record of 78–3 at the Summer Games, clinching their eighth consecutive gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning by a narrow margin against France, 67-66. Controversy also arose when star player Caitlin Clark was omitted from the roster. Notably, Team USA hasn’t experienced defeat in Olympic play since their bronze medal finish in the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Before retiring in 2022, Bird enjoyed a stellar career, securing five Olympic medals and four World Cup titles with the national team. After a remarkable collegiate career at UConn that included two NCAA championships, she was the number one overall pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft. Bird’s professional journey spanned 19 years, acquiring four WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm.

As the upcoming events approach, the first qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will occur this November, with the main tournament set for Sept 4-13, 2026, in Germany.