Sue Bird named to 5th Olympic team in women’s basketball

Published June 21, 2021

Professional women’s basketball player, Suzanne Brigit Bird was born in Syosset, New York to a Jewish family with Russian origins, though Sue was raised Christian by her mother, she has been very active in Jewish causes and has celebrated her Jewish ancestry.

Today, the former Olympic Gold medalist, 40, was named to her fifth Olympic squad. Her first was at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Bird, the first selection in the 2002 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm, is the league’s all-time leader in assists and games played.

The roster for Team USA which be chasing its seventh straight gold medal for the United States was announced this morning on the Today Show, with Bird and Diana Taurasi joining head coach Dawn Staley to make the list official.

Both Bird and Taurasi are back for their fifth gold medal run, having won in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 already. There are five UConn players on the roster, and head coach Dawn Staley will take the best player on her 2017 national championship team at South Carolina in A’ja Wilson.

Among the big names left off the list are Elena Delle Donne, who is still recovering from a back injury for the Washington Mystics and has yet to play this season.

Here is the roster for the Team USA women’s basketball team for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo:

Ariel Atkins
Sue Bird
Tina Charles
Napheesa Collier
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Sylvia Fowles
Chelsea Gray
Brittney Griner
Jewell Lloyd
Breanna Stewart
Diana Taurasi
A’ja Wilson