Sue Bird had a simple message for Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers after December’s national team training camp in Durham: be louder.
Bueckers, who will make her senior Team USA competitive debut at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico next week, addressed the exchange Saturday inside the Miami Heat’s practice facility.
“She came up to me and said, ‘You’re quiet,'” Bueckers said. “And I felt like I was yelling the whole time. It reminded me of being around Coach Geno because he says the same thing.”
Bird, the national team’s managing director, detailed the conversation and explained what she was really after.
“Yeah, I did say that to her last camp,” Bird said. “She likes talking shit, so I appreciate that — that’s the type of vocal that I like.”
Sue Bird Sees Paige Bueckers as a Connector
Bird, the national team’s managing director, was not issuing a warning — she was pushing Bueckers toward something she already sees.
“Paige has really demonstrated that she can be a connector, and it’s about bringing that out of her,” Bird said. “She’s a young player, first time on the senior national team, so there could be a tendency to fall into the background. You want somebody like Paige, who is a connector, to just be herself. So I was encouraging that.”
Bueckers said holding herself and others accountable is a personal priority heading into Puerto Rico.
“For me, it’s about holding people accountable,” Bueckers said. “I’ve always been a people pleaser and didn’t want to step on toes. But I’ve learned that calling people out is really calling people up — doing it constructively, not personally. My teammates need to see me hold myself accountable to the same standards.”
Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark Among Players Making Senior Debuts
Bueckers is one of four players making their senior national team competitive debut in Puerto Rico, joined by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark, Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese, and Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen. Bird had direct advice for all of them.
“With USA Basketball, there’s always a balance you have to strike between yourself — why you’re here and what you’re bringing to the team — but also trying to mesh with the rest of the group as quickly as possible,” Bird said. “One mistake doesn’t mean you’re off the team. One right play doesn’t mean you’re on the team. You have to get in there and bring the intangibles — the reason why you’re there every day at practice. You have to be a sponge.”
Bueckers said she plans to approach this experience the same way.
“To lean on the older players, ask questions, be a sponge — but also soak up this experience for myself because I want to learn and grow for the next experience,” Bueckers said.
She also spoke about how quickly she expects this group to gel.
“Just meshing with a new group — that’s something I learned in Breese too, how quickly chemistry can build organically,” Bueckers said. “I love playing basketball and building relationships, and basketball is the best way for me to do that.”
Sue Bird on Puerto Rico as a Test for USA Basketball
Bird noted that the qualifying tournament, which the United States enters having already secured its spot in the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, puts first-timers in an unfamiliar situation — facing teams playing for their tournament lives.
“The best part about this qualifying tournament is we already qualified,” Bird said. “That means the other teams aren’t just playing against the U.S. — they’re playing for themselves. They’re trying to qualify. So I think it’s a wonderful test, especially for players who haven’t been on the senior national team.”
The United States opens play on March 11 against Senegal in San Juan and also faces Puerto Rico, Italy, New Zealand, and Spain. The FIBA Women’s World Cup follows in Berlin from Sept. 4-13.
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