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U.S.A. Basketball has appointed Sue Bird as the first managing director of the Women's National Team.

USA Basketball Women's National Team appoints WNBA superstar Sue Bird as its inaugural managing director, assuming one of the most challenging roles in the sports world, as revealed on Thursday.

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Prominent WNBA figure Sue Bird assumed the position of Managing Director for the highly successful...
Prominent WNBA figure Sue Bird assumed the position of Managing Director for the highly successful USA Basketball Women's National Team, stepping into one of the toughest administrative roles in global sports, as revealed on Thursday.

U.S.A. Basketball has appointed Sue Bird as the first managing director of the Women's National Team.

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In a monumental shift, WNBA superstar Sue Bird has been named the first managing director of the U.S. Women's Basketball Team, taking up one of the most pressure-packed jobs in sports. The announcement sent shockwaves through the basketball world on Thursday.

Bird, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, will make history as the inaugural holder of this position, having been tasked with selecting American coaches and players for international tournaments.

Speaking to NBC's "TODAY" show, Bird expressed her excitement, "I'm pumped! As a player, I represented our country, so it's a massive thrill to continue that in this role."

Her responsibilities extend to managing U.S. teams for major international competitions like the upcoming FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This will also involve supervising training camps over the next three years.

"It's an incredible honor to be designated as the managing director of USA Basketball's Women's National Team," Bird said in a statement. "Representing the United States has been one of the most cherished experiences of my life, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to support the next generation as they carry on this legacy."

American dominance in women's basketball is undeniable, boasting 10 Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles. Yet, with growing competition, the margin of error for maintaining this supremacy has narrowed significantly.

Last year, the team managed to edge past France in the Olympic gold medal game, winning 67-66, thanks to a critical defensive play by Gabby Williams. The competition is ferocious, and Bird is well aware of the challenges, remarking, "Everyone who takes this job walks into a no-win situation. The pressure is constant for USA Basketball, just like it was when I played, and that pressure remains today."

Bird has amassed an impressive career, playing for more than a dozen U.S. teams with a historic 162-9 record in international tournaments such as the Jones Cup. USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley described her as "one of the most influential figures in the basketball community."

As a player, Bird prided herself on her ability to make her teammates shine, and she hopes to translate that mentality into her new role. "I was the teammate who helped everyone succeed on the court. I aim to be the person who ensures everyone's in the right places to allow them to continue excelling," she explained.

Besides her new role, Bird's WNBA career has spanned over two decades, earning her 13 All-Star selections and four championships. She recently retired in 2022 and will be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in September.

While "retirement" keeps her busy with podcasts alongside longtime partner Megan Rapinoe, and ownership roles with the Storm and the NWSL's Gotham FC, Bird says it feels more like a busy basketball life than work, joking, "You know, retirement was boring!"

Key Insights:- The managing director role for the Women's National Team mirrors that of Grant Hill on the men's side, with key responsibilities such as roster selection, coaching staff selection, leadership, and decision-making.- Bird's extensive experience as a player and her ability to foster team success translates well into her new executive role, where she aims to guide and support the next generation of players.- The women's team's dominance in women's basketball is undisputed, but the growing competition has necessitated a more strategic and focused approach to maintain this edge.

  1. In her new role as the managing director of USA Basketball's Women's National Team, Sue Bird will now be in charge of managing investments, like selecting coaches and players for international tournaments, such as the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
  2. Despite the undisputed dominance of the U.S. Women's Basketball Team in international competitions, with 10 Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles, the increasing competition has made it crucial for asset management, as the margin of error for maintaining supremacy has narrowed significantly.
  3. Following her retirement from professional basketball in 2022, Sue Bird has diversified her interests, including ownership roles in sports teams like the Storm and the NWBA's Gotham FC, while also partnering with Megan Rapinoe for podcasts to discuss various topics, including her new executive role in the WNBA.
  4. Known as one of the most influential figures in the basketball community, Sue Bird's extensive experience as a player and her ability to foster team success, like her 162-9 record in international tournaments such as the Jones Cup, will be valuable assets in her new leadership role with USA Basketball.
  5. In Taiwan, basketball enthusiasts have expressed their excitement about the recent appointment of Jim Tooley's management team, led by Sue Bird, as they look forward to the upcoming events in women's basketball, like the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, hoping that the WNBA superstars can maintain their dominance and bring home more gold medals in the future.

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