Sue Bird Leads Team USA, Joins NBC After Stellar Career

Sue Bird isn't done changing the game. The 45-year-old basketball icon traded her Seattle Storm jersey for roles that might be even more impactful: managing director of USA women's basketball and NBC Sports studio analyst.

In 2025, USA Basketball named Sue to select the roster for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Just last month, NBC brought her on board to bring expert analysis to WNBA coverage.

The transition wasn't always smooth. Sue admits she's still figuring out Google Docs shortcuts and puts "a lot of comments" instead of proper edits. But she's approaching these new challenges the same way she dominated the court for decades.

"A lot of how I prepare for my different jobs is the same way I did as an athlete," Sue told Women's Health. She focuses on thorough preparation while accepting that surprises will happen and not everything will work perfectly.

Sue tested different paths during her off-seasons before retirement, trying various pursuits to see what felt right. The answer kept circling back to women's basketball, the sport that shaped her life and still fuels her passion.

Her physical routine has shifted too. Sue exercises six days a week now, mixing group fitness classes for accountability, heavy lifting to build muscle mass heading into perimenopause, and Pilates for recovery. She let go of the all-or-nothing mentality that defined her playing days and embraced incremental progress instead.

Why This Inspires

Sue's excitement about mentoring the next generation shows how far women's basketball has come. Today's players are signing million-dollar contracts and endorsement deals that create generational wealth, opportunities Sue never had during her playing career.

"They have a totally different life and experience within basketball than I did," she says. She keeps an open door for players who want advice but mostly marvels at how well they're navigating their careers. Sue also co-founded TOGETHXR, a platform for female athletes, and hosts her podcast Bird's Eye View.

From learning laptop basics to shaping Olympic rosters, Sue Bird proves that retirement is just another word for reinvention.