The 2002 USA Basketball Women’s World Championship Team added Sue Bird to the 12-member U.S. Team roster along with 2000 Olympic gold medalist DeLisha Miltonand Tamecka Dixon of the Los Angeles Sparks. The 14th FIBA World Championship for Women will feature national teams from 16 nations competing in nine cities in the People's Republic of China Sept. 14-25. Lauren Jackson will compete for the Australian team, setting up a possible matchup between the two Storm All-Stars.

Bird, Dixon and Milton join previously announced 2002 U.S. World Championship team members Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever); Shannon Johnson (Orlando Miracle); Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks); Katie Smith (Minnesota Lynx); Dawn Staley (Charlotte Sting); Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets); Tina Thompson (Houston Comets) and Natalie Williams (Utah Starzz).

“First of all, we’re adding some real experience in DeLisha Milton,” said USA and Houston Comets head coach Van Chancellor. “She has had experience on national teams in the past and knows what it takes to win at this level. She also give us some size and strength to help fortify our inside game. And we thought we also needed to have some more ball handling, some people who could make plays. I think that Dixon and Bird fill the bill. I’m happy with the team the Committee has put together, we’ve got strengths at every position and I think we have the right mix to go over there and make a run for the gold medal.”

“Obviously it’s a great honor to have the opportunity to represent your country,” said Bird. “And for me to be named among some of the best players in the world right now, to be able to play with them is also a great honor.

“It would be an awesome year (to win a national and world title in 2002),” added Bird. “Obviously, playing for USA Basketball is something that I’ve dreamed about, something I’ve always wanted to do, always aspired to do. That would be an incredible year for me, to finish it off that way.”

Bird has thrice donned a USA Basketball uniform, first as a member of the gold medal winning 2000 USA R. William Jones Cup Team that posted a perfect 4-0 record in Taipei, Taiwan. Starting all four games, Bird passed off for a team high 4.3 assists per game, while adding 2.0 points and 2.5 rebounds a game. The 5-9 guard returned less than two months later as a member of the 2000 USA Basketball Select Team that fell 97-31 to the eventual gold medal winning 2000 U.S. Olympic Team in an exhibition contest on Sept. 3, 2000. Going up against the best in the world, Bird passed off for three assists and collected two rebounds. Most recently she joined in on the final two days of the 2002 USA Basketball Women’s National Team spring training in Colorado Springs.

“That was kind of a weird day,” commented Bird on the impression she left following her workout with members of the USA National Team. “I had just finished my college season, I walked off the plane and literally walked onto the court. I didn’t know what to expect. I just wanted to go in there, (USA Basketball Assistant Executive Director for Women’s Programs) Carol Callan told me to go out and have some fun, so I just did that. It was great to meet everybody and to get a feel of what it would be like to play with them. I don’t know if it helped, but I’m definitely excited right now.”