BERLIN (Germany) - Four-time FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup champion and newly enshrined FIBA Hall of Fame inductee Sue Bird has been reflecting on USA's group opponents after the successful conclusion of the draw for this year's flagship event.
Currently the Managing Director of the USA Women’s National Team, as well as the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Global Ambassador, Bird had much to digest as USA were drawn in Group D with China, Czechia and Italy.
“I thought the draw for the USA was tough,” she said in an on-site interview with FIBA.
"Each team represents a different challenge, but that's always the best part about group play. You get to see different teams, different styles and it helps you prepare for what hopefully is the next round."
Already selected as one of the six best games to watch during the group phase, USA will open up with a clash against China - an exciting repeat of the title game in Sydney four years ago. "China is tough and in 2022 they really showed a lot about who they are, about what they're developing as a team and they've added even more player and more talent," mused Bird.
"Also, a lot of height - I mean they have a ton of size. Obviously this will be with Brittney Griner not likely being with the USA team. So this will be the first time when potentially we don't have a player of that size, so it will be interesting for us."
USA will also be very familiar with Italy, since they faced the European side in the recent Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
With every group winner advancing directly to the Quarter-Finals, the onus will be on USA to avoid any early slipups and look for a smooth path towards what would be a fifth straight title.
Even if Bird is adamant they should not be looking too far ahead as they chase their fifth consecutive title.
She stated: "For us, we always want to win when we put on the jersey but what has always led to success for us is not thinking about that end result, but really thinking about getting better each day in practice and thinking about using each game to get better.
"We don't have the training time, so hopefully we can keep getting better as we go and hopefully the results follow."
After the draw concluded, Bird was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026 in a glittering ceremony at Kraftwerk Berlin.
And the legendary playmaker reiterated just what it meant to be honored and be added to a list of the sport's iconic figures.
She said: "I’ve been lucky to have a lot of meaningful moments in my career, but this one feels different because it isn't about one team, or one league, or one city. It's about the game on a global level."
FIBA