BERLIN — Sue Bird started building a potential World Cup roster in her head soon after she got the job as the first managing director of the U.S. women’s national team nearly 16 months ago .
Those thoughts, which underwent many changes over the past year, have now come to fruition as the Americans prepare to open play against China on Friday. Bird feels a different kind of pressure than she did as a player for the U.S. during her incredible playing career, during which she helped the Americans win five Olympic gold medals and four World Cup championships.