Sue Bird is the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Global Ambassador. FIBA photo
Bird ready to fly as new FIBA Ambassador
SUE Bird, a women’s basketball icon on and off the court, was formally named as the Global Ambassador for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup in Germany.
Delighted to be able to take on the new position, which was recognized in a special ceremony last at the Mall of Asia Arena at the FIBA World Cup semifinal game between the United States and Germany, Bird is looking forward to grow the game even further.
“I feel honored to be sitting here today. Women’s basketball is at a really exciting moment and there is no better way to continue this momentum for me now than as a Global Ambassador for the 2026 World Cup,” Bird said.
“Over the next two years, with the lead-up to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, we are going to get to see a lot of basketball and growth for the women’s game. And with the expanded field for 2026, there will be a lot more opportunities for players and national teams to dream and be ambitious and for fans to follow the journeys of their favorite players and teams,” she added.
A four-time WNBA champion who played her entire 20-year career for the Seattle Storm, Bird is the only player to have won the women’s flagship event four times, winning the gold for the United States in 2002 in China, 2010 in the Czech Republic, 2014 in Turkey and 2018 in Spain.
Bird also has five Olympic gold medals and was the flag bearer for her country at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.
She succeeded Pau Gasol, who fulfilled the ambassadorial role at Sydney last year, a competition that was widely heralded as the best Women’s World Cup in history.
“I have always enjoyed watching the women’s game and it is something I feel very strongly about. Seeing the growth of the game, the differences and the progress made, with Kobe (Bryant) and Gigi as an inspiration, this is something that is very close to my heart, and it’s important for me to continue to follow this path,” Gasol said.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis is upbeat that Bird will be successful in her role as Global Ambassador.
“Sue Bird is one of the first names anyone would mention when a discussion takes place about the greatest players in our sport, certainly, when it comes to the unprecedented success she has had at various FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cups and Olympic Games in her incredible career,” Zaglis said.
“She gave the fans such great memories with her contributions when she was on the court and having a legendary player who knows what it takes to promote our next FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Germany is fantastic. Sue will inspire so many people in this position and we can’t wait for her to make an impact.”
With an expanded field of 16 teams, the next Women’s World Cup will take place in Berlin in September 2026, the second time that Germany will host the world’s biggest women’s basketball showcase.
