WNBA legend and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird revealed that she''s landed the newly launched role of managing director of the women's national team with USA Basketball during a phone interview with the Associated Press on Thursday (May 8).

“I played for USA Basketball for so long and always really enjoyed my time with them,” Bird said. “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 new position marks a significant change in the way USA Basketball's women's team creates its roster and coaching staff, having previously used a committee to make those decisions. Bird will now be responsible for putting things together, taking on a similar role to Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill with the men's team.

“We are really, really excited about Sue for so many reasons,” said USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley said in a phone interview with the Associated Press. “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.”

“She’s had five Olympic gold medals herself and understands what’s involved,” Tooley added. “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 is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of women's basketball with four WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm, two national championships during her collegiate career at UConn and five Olympic gold medals, as well as being selected as a WNBA All-Star 13 times, an All-WNBA First teamer five times, an All-WNBA Second Teamer three times and the WNBA's 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th Anniversary Teams.

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Jean Marie