Sue Bird's Olympic debut was in 2004, when she participated in the Summer Games in Athens, Greece. Bird would go on to represent Team USA in four more Games, and won medals in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020.
Bird was named the Manging Director of Team USA in May 2025. Part of her job is evaluating players for potential roster placement ahead of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, the World Cup tournament in September, and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. While speaking with reporters this week ahead of next week's qualifying tournament, Bird revealed that her own past has influenced her strategy.
After explaining that she was happy with how the first day of training camp went, Bird said, ‘‘I think there’s enough veteran leadership here that can allow [the young core] to be themselves but also guide them along the way. And that’s exactly what it was for me when I was first coming through USA Basketball.’’
Team USA's roster is young, but there are still plenty of veterans
Though the 12-person team does skew young, and several players are set to make their senior debut for Team USA, the roster is still stacked with veteran talent. Bird pointed out that playing internationally for the United States is just different; the country has a reputation for winning, and winning often.
"Globally, you have to understand that when you put that jersey on, it’s different,’’ Bird explained. ‘‘People come at you different.’’
Bird also made it clear that the roster who will play this week in Puerto Rico is likely going to change ahead of September's tournament, and Olympics vets like Napheesa Collier and A'ja Wilson will probably end up moving a few people out. But that's part of the game, and it's up to the younger players to demonstrate why they deserve a spot on the floor.
Whether they get to stay or not, just being around that kind of talent is a lesson in and of itself, Angel Reese told reporters. ‘‘You come here, and you’re a sponge to whatever position they put you out as,’’ Reese said. ‘‘Everybody here can score. Everybody’s the star of their team. So you come here and try to find your role and your fit.’’
The full roster includes 2024 Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, as well as WNBA vets Dearica Hamby and Rhyne Howard. Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Kiki Iriafen, Reese, and Rae Burrell also join the group.
Aliyah Boston, who previously represented the US in junior and senior competitions and the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp, Belgium, was named to the team, but she and Sonia Citron will both miss this week's tournament due to injuries sustained during Unrivaled.