Sue Bird has held nearly every title in basketball — champion, All-Star, and front-office executive. Her next one, however, will come with a microphone and a national audience. We’ve seen her work tirelessly for USA Basketball as its managing director and remain in the sport through her YouTube channel after her career ended. But now, the 45-year-old will return to the WNBA in an explicitly new role amid the league’s blossoming period with expansion and a new CBA deal.
A reliable basketball page on X recently confirmed that Bird will be joining NBC for the 2026 WNBA season as a studio analyst. “Sue Bird expected to be named an analyst for NBC/Peacock’s WNBA coverage, per @sportsrapport.” the post read.
Although Bird hasn’t stepped into a traditional broadcasting role before this, she did host the popular ESPN altcast, “The Bird & Taurasi” show. The show used to provide parallel commentary on the March Madness games, with Bird and Diana Taurasi at the helm. The show was discontinued earlier in the year, in February, but this new role is a significant step towards her broadcasting endeavors.
Advertisement
“I’ve been circling broadcasting for a long time now,” Bird said. “Given NBC’s history and legacy and where the WNBA is now, I am excited to be part of it. It needed to be the right fit, the right people, the right network.”
The 4-time WNBA champion has plenty of experience in staying in front of the camera. She can gain immense experience from “The Bird’s Eye View,” which she hosts on her YouTube channel, where she frequently breaks down and comments on major WNBA and basketball events. All in all, for Bird, the shift from the USA Basketball front office to the NBC broadcasting room won’t be much of a challenge.
Bird’s inclusion in NBC’s plans comes amid the league’s broadcasting expansion as part of the 11-year $2.2B media rights deal. Multiple platforms will showcase the WNBA games as part of the deal. NBCUniversal holds most of the cards and will host a substantial number of regular-season games, as well as the playoffs, via its flagship NBC.
The USA Network, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, will also showcase 50 regular-season games, along with other NBCUniversal subsidiaries like Peacock. Besides this, Amazon Prime Video, as well as Disney subsidiaries ESPN and ABC, will host games as part of this historic media rights deal and subsequent broadcasting expansion.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – AUGUST 07: Sue Bird #10 of the Seattle Storm acknowledges fans before her last regular season home game of her career against the Las Vegas Aces at Climate Pledge Arena on August 07, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Notably, Bird isn’t the only women’s basketball star that the WNBA’s broadcasting expansion is leaning into. The USA Network has roped in former Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham as a contributor in its broadcasting booth. “I just love sports. I love talking to people and learning their stories, and I love the ‘why,” Cunningham said of her new role.
Advertisement
These tactics are part of a strategy NBC has been following for a long time now: bringing in stars to capture fans’ attention. We’ve seen them do the same with their “Basketball Night in America”. They brought in Caitlin Clark for the event, and the show’s broadcasting numbers went through the roof. And now, the broadcasting giant is looking to do the same with WNBA games.
But more than the fandom and popularity, it’s the inherent knowledge and nuances of the sport that NBC is leaning into to bring Sue Bird in as one of its studio analysts.
Senior NBC Executive Praises Sue Bird as the 4-Time Champ Embraces New Role
Having played basketball for all these years and being a 4-time WNBA Champ and a 13-time All-Star, it’s quite fair to say that Sue Bird does have ample knowledge of the sport, despite having little experience in a full-time commentary role. This doesn’t just make her a perfect addition in the broadcasting room, but also establishes her as a reliable voice.
Advertisement
WNBA Coordinating Producer of NBC Sports, Betsy Riley, has also shared that Bird’s credibility and knowledge will help the broadcasting giants carve out a separate niche for the fans.
“There is no more accomplished player in the history of the WNBA and arguably in all of women’s sports than Sue Bird,” Riley said. “Sue’s knowledge of the game is unmatched and will bring fans closer to the sport they love, both through analysis and storytelling.”
Bird herself gave a detailed explanation on her understanding of this role. Additionally, the former Seattle Storm player also expressed her interest in narrating the stories that unfold on the hardwood.
“From the talent to the coaching to fan engagement, this league has never been stronger,” Bird said of her new role. “I’m so excited to get to tell those stories in real time, dig into the details, and give fans a different perspective on everything that makes the WNBA such a special and entertaining league.”
Advertisement
The 2026 WNBA season will start in a few weeks on May 8. As a result, Bird won’t have to wait long to delve into the interesting storylines around the league. All in all, it will be interesting to see how Bird shifts her vision from calling the shots on the court to the USA Basketball planning room and then to the broadcasting room with a mic in her hand.
