Bird's Eye View with Sue Bird

Fresh off securing the first ever WNBA championship for the Golden State Valkyries, 2026 Finals MVP Gabby Williams stops by Bird’s Eye View! Gabby and Sue talk about Gabby’s offensive strategy for Game 7, how it felt facing an equally defensive-minded team in the Atlanta Dream, Natalie Nakase’s bold leadership, and why Golden State’s system can’t be replicated. Gabby also reflects on all of the ways she and the Valkyries made WNBA history during this Finals run, from Gabby scoring the most points in a Finals game half (28 points) to Golden State becoming the fastest team to win a title. Plus, Sue invites a special guest to the pod to surprise Gabby! Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Bird’s Eye View, Sue welcomes Emmy-winning analyst and broadcaster LaChina Robinson to discuss why the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream has been anything but predictable. Then, LaChina and Sue recap the most compelling trends and storylines from the entire season, including why this year’s Finals run by the Atlanta Dream has been 18 years in the making and why the W’s 30th season has felt like one big family reunion. LaChina also talks about her commitment to uplifting the next generation of women in sports broadcasting and how it feels to see her mentees find success. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining Sue for this week’s episode of Bird’s Eye View is Kara Lawson, head coach of Duke University Women’s Basketball and Team USA. Kara and Sue kick things off breaking down the first three games of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream: from Angel Reese’s impact on winning to key adjustments the Valkyries need to make offensively.   Kara then dives into the league’s progress overall, Team USA’s path to FIBA World Cup gold, and the experiences that shaped her voice as a coach. Kara reflects on her own WNBA Finals run with the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005; the challenges of managing rosters stacked with elite players like Breanna Stewart, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers; and how coaching 3x3 informed her coaching style the most. Plus, Kara revisits some of her most memorable locker room speeches, including telling Team USA “Let this be the last time” at this year’s World Cup. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird, we welcome Seattle Storm guard and newly minted 2026 WNBA All-Rookie Flau’jae Johnson. Flau’jae and Sue react to the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries sweeping the semifinals and look ahead at what to expect from their matchup in the Finals. Sue then talks to Flau’jae about what it’s like being a young guard in the league, blocking 5x MVP A’ja Wilson, and setting franchise records. Flau’jae opens up about what it was like to suit up every day knowing games weren’t going the Storm’s way, how it felt to get traded on Draft Night, and how she plans to continue leveling up her game. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Bird’s Eye View, Sue is joined by Washington Mystics point guard Georgia Amoore. While Sue and Georgia break down game one of the WNBA semifinals, Georgia gets candid about what it was really like to face the Atlanta Dream during round one of the playoffs and explains why she thinks the Dream are on their way to winning it all. Sue and Georgia also assess whether the Las Vegas Aces can keep up with the tenacity and persistence of the Golden State Valkyries (and Ballhalla!) Georgia then opens up about how being “short” forced her to develop a game bigger than her size, overcoming a season-ending injury her rookie year, and why she wants to spend the offseason playing in Australia’s WNBL. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird, we welcome Portland Fire head coach Alex Sarama to recap round one of the WNBA playoffs. Alex and Sue discuss the three-game series format and their takeaways from all four matchups: (1) Minnesota Lynx vs. (8) New York Liberty, (3) Las Vegas Aces vs. (6) Indiana Fever, (4) Atlanta Dream vs. (5) Washington Mystics, and (2) Golden State Valkyries vs. (7) Dallas Wings. Alex then dives into what it’s been like leading his first WNBA team, from learning an entirely new league to getting the Fire to embrace his constraints-led approach to coaching to planning for the offseason and beyond. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The WNBA's 2026 Most Improved Player and Dallas Wings forward Jessica Shepard joins Bird’s Eye View this week. But first, Sue shares her selects for this year’s highly contested WNBA awards, including who should be named MVP among A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Mitchell, and, yes, rookie Olivia Miles. Jessica and Sue dive into all of Jessica’s WNBA highs and lows, from her league suspension in 2024 to having the best season of her career with the Wings. Jessica talks about what she learned playing under Cheryl Reeve, why Paige Bueckers is one of the best teammates she’s ever had, and what the Wings need to do to find success in the playoffs. Jessica and Sue also discuss the long-term impact of WNBA players playing overseas less while more international players enter the league. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tina Charles is back on Bird’s Eye View with Sue Bird for round two. After covering the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on TNT Sports, the WNBA MVP, 8x All-Star, 3x Olympic gold medalist, and 3x FIBA World Cup champion has another accolade to add to the list: America’s new favorite broadcaster. On this episode of the pod, Tina and Sue discuss how the globalization of the WNBA impacted this year’s tournament, highlight the players and game-changing plays that led to Team USA bringing home the gold, and assess how the FIBA-break will impact the rest of the WNBA season.    But first in “Sue’s View,” Sue reacts to Cathy Engelbert announcing her retirement and shares lessons learned during her first World Cup as managing director of Team USA. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Bird’s Eye View, Sue Bird is joined by her former Seattle Storm teammate and Australian Opals icon Lauren Jackson. Whenever Sue and LJ get together it’s a time, and this episode is no different. Sue and Lauren get into the pros and cons of going pro at 16, the Opals legendary FIBA World Cup run in 2006, and how LJ’s role on a team differs between international tournaments and the WNBA. Lauren also reflects on her impact on the women’s game and shares her favorite young post players to watch today. In “Sue’s View”, Sue answers your questions about “The Dynasty: UConn Huskies” documentary and shares a never-before-told story about how intense practices got with Coach Geno Auriemma. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

**NOTE: We recorded before it was announced that A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will miss the World Cup due to health reasons.** This week on Bird’s Eye View, Sue Bird welcomes 2x NBA champion and FIBA icon Pau Gasol to kick off the start of the 2026 Women’s World Cup in Berlin, Germany. Pau played in the NBA for 18 years, most notably with the Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies, and is one of the most successful basketball players in Spain’s history. In 2006, he helped lead Spain to its first FIBA World Cup title and won MVP along the way. Since his retirement, Pau has been deeply committed to growing the women's global game. Pau talks about his favorite FIBA World Cup memories, Spain’s rising stars Awa Fam and Iyana Martin, and what it’s like to be battle-tested by the USA’s national team. Sue and Pau also dive into what makes a World Cup one of the most challenging tournaments to play in and what it means to represent their countries at such a high level of international competition. In “Sue’s View,” Sue explains how she put together this year’s Team USA roster and which countries pose the biggest threat to Team USA bringing home its fifth consecutive gold medal. Bird’s Eye View is produced in partnership with VOX MEDIA and TOGETHXR. Follow Sue on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sbird10/   Follow Sue on X: https://x.com/s10bird   Follow Bird’s Eye View on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birdseyeviewpod/  Follow Bird’s Eye View on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birdseyeviewpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices