Well Played

Let's Discuss

All Eyes on Sue

What’s going on: Sue Bird spent years helping Team USA basketball collect gold medals. Now she’s tasked with picking the next generation of players who can hopefully do the same. And that's a pretty big departure from how things used to work. Last year, USA Basketball named Bird the women’s national team’s first managing director. Her position replaced the committee that previously selected players and it makes Bird largely responsible for building the team. Her 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup roster gives us our first real look at what that means. Seven players (Aliyah Boston, Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Napheesa Collier, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, and Jackie Young) will make their event debuts next month in Berlin, while Paris gold medalists Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas, and Brittney Griner are staying home. So is rising star Olivia Miles, whose omission quickly landed her on the snub list. Bird called Miles a “great young player” who will “undoubtedly be in the mix” for future teams. But she says team construction isn't about evaluating one player “in a silo.” She wanted players who complement each other, have a cohesiveness, and fit with coach Kara Lawson’s style of play — which emphasizes defensive intensity, disciplined execution, and a structured, team-first offense built on ball movement and versatility. 

Our take: Bird told us this was coming. When she took the job, she said she’d lean on her two decades of experience with Team USA and her understanding of what makes for a good mix on the court — spoken like a true point guard. Bird has described basketball as five players needing to be “on a string,” connected whether they’re directly involved in the play or not. Her first roster puts that philosophy into practice while keeping an eye on what comes next. Bird was once the youngster getting her first international reps, experience she says “paid dividends” later. The newcomers will now get that chance alongside veterans (A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, and Kelsey Plum) who already understand how to win on an international stage. That makes Berlin more than a title defense. It’s Bird’s first chance to show what Team USA can look like on her watch. 

Related: The FIBA World Cup is Already Impacting Your Favorite Player’s WNBA Team (The Athletic)

Pick Six

More sports talkers you don't want to miss.

📣 Former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Reece Weaver revealed her first major gig since hanging up her boots — and let’s just say she’s not done performing.

🏀 Ever wonder how Paige Bueckers gets her ponytail so slick? She finally shared her multistep process (and favorite wax stick). We may need to adopt her method in this humidity. 

💦 Tom Brady's Mediterranean travel insanity continues, but does his athlete card deserve to be revoked for this move? We have thoughts. 

🗽We anticipated changes to the NYC Marathon entry guidelines wouldn’t go over so well, but we did not expect such outrage.

🤣 Ted Lasso star Juno Temple showed Kylie Kelce how she tackles different American accents — including the truly hilarious logic behind her Fargo one.

🤔 Coco Gauff has an off-court obsession with a surprisingly wholesome hobby. It sounds kinda intense to us, but she swears it’s how she unwinds.

Skimmed by Mallory Simon and Jordan Galloway. Fact-checked by Jordan Mamone.