Blogging the Journey: Sue Bird

Team DNA: Different skills, different personalities, and a whole new playing field. How will they pull it off? Sue talks about the explosive chemistry on this year’s Team USA.

I think the makeup of our team is going to be the key for us this year. We have players who have a ton of Olympic experience. They’re real veterans, and with that comes a maturity level. They know how to win in the Olympics.

One of the biggest advantages for us is that pretty much our entire team will have international experience, even if it’s not in the Olympics. International play is really different than what you see in WNBA; the refs are different, the players are different, the moves are different.

International experience is also important because you already know the players you’re up against. I could go down the list of most teams I've played in the past and give you a full scouting report on every single player. Since you don’t really have a lot time to scout, and you don’t have a lot of time to prepare, it’s a huge advantage to have that experience.

This team is also special because we know each other so well. I’ve played for our coach for many years now, so I know her system, I know her style, and I can really help the team in a kind of leadership role. All of us are really close, I've played with some of these guys all the way back to college, plus overseas and in the league.

So I’m excited about it. It’s going to be very challenging, but I think we can pull it off. And I think we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it, and that’s mostly what I’m looking forward to.

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