Sue Bird opens up on delivering tough Team USA roster updates

Team USA’s roster for the FIBA World Cup is out, and while it features plenty of star power, several notable players were left off. WNBA champion sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu and rookie sensation Olivia Myles were among the notable snubs. Sue Bird, Team USA’s managing director, told USA Today what it was like relaying the news to the players who didn’t make the cut.

“Just kind of understanding what that moment is like, trying to treat it with the respect it deserves,” Bird said. “Share the news. Be honest. Say it. Be upfront. And so that’s what I tried to do. And every player was incredibly respectful, incredibly professional. I can’t say enough about them.”

Bird recounted to calling Ionescu personally to let her know that she didn’t make the roster following her service to the team during the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.

“For Sabrina, for really all players who received calls, I just wanted to reiterate that this is a very tough roster to make. I don’t view it as a reflection of their play.”

Bird believes that it’s right for the players to hear from her directly about not making the team.

“Every player deserves the right to hear it, whether it’s a yes or a no from me,” Bird said. “It’s not a reflection of who they are as players. There’s so many players that have earned the right to be on this team. And for Sabrina, a player that has already been on this team, she understands what it is to wear the jersey… It’s about making choices for those that I think are going to be part of the (roster) to win a gold medal and complement each other.”

Bird also addressed Myles not making the team, saying that while she was not on the roster for the FIBA World Cup, she will certainly be an option in the future.

“Olivia is a tremendous player. So much fun to watch. It’s been amazing watching her grow in this league. She’s such a great young player. As far as Olivia goes, she’s played with USA basketball before. She will undoubtedly be in the mix for teams in the future.”

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