Sue Bird Named to USA Women's National Team
Published on May 31, 2008 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Seattle Storm News Release
SEATTLE, Saturday, May 31, 2008 - Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird has been named to the 2008 USA Women's Senior National Team, it was announced today by USA Basketball. This will be Bird's second Olympic Games. She was a member of the USA's Gold Medal team at the 2004 games in Athens, Greece.
"This is a great honor for me and I'm excited to again represent the USA at the Olympics," Bird said. "Competing against the best talent in the world on behalf of my country is a wonderful opportunity.
Bird is no stranger to competing for the USA's Senior National Team. She helped the team win the Gold Medal at the 2002 and 2006 World Championship Games. Following her senior season at the University of Connecticut in 2002, Bird averaged 4.3 points and 1.0 rebound per game at the World Championships in China. In 2006, the 5-9 guard made a big impact at the World Championship games in Brazil by averaging 7.4 points and 4.6 assists per game.
"We're very proud of Sue and her continued accomplishments, and we're obviously very excited that she'll also be representing the United States and Seattle at the Olympics this summer," said Storm CEO Karen Bryant.
Bird is among a group of Storm players, a former coach and a member of the ownership group who have competed in the Olympic Games. Storm center Lauren Jackson won a silver medal for the Australian Women's Basketball Team in 2004 and will compete in the 2008 summer games for Australia. Forward/center Yolanda Griffith earned a gold medal with the 2004 USA Women's Basketball team that competed in Athens. Forward Sheryl Swoopes was a member of the 1996 and 2000 teams which won gold medals in Atlanta and Sydney, Australia.
Former Storm head coach Anne Donovan will coach the 2008 Women's National Team in Beijing. She earned Olympic gold medals in 1984 and 1988 as a member of the USA National Women's Teams and as an assistant coach in 2004. In addition, Ginny Gilder, a member of the Storm ownership group Force 10 Hoops L.L.C., was a member of the 1980 U.S. rowing team and earned a silver medal in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 31, 2008
- Sue Bird Named to USA Women's National Team - Seattle Storm
- Lynx Guard Seimone Augustus Among Nine Players Selected to the 2008 U.S. Women's Olympic Team - Minnesota Lynx
- Comets come up short to Sacramento - Houston Comets
- Owner Hilton Koch Supports World Food Programme's Efforts to End World Hunger - Houston Comets
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