Basketball legend Sue Bird is trading the hardwood for the broadcast booth this season, joining NBC Sports as a studio analyst for its WNBA coverage. For Bird, a Hall of Famer and four-time WNBA champion, this move is a full-circle moment. She grew up watching the WNBA on NBC and now, as the league tips off its landmark 30th season on May 8, she'll be a central voice on the network's broadcasts.

In an exclusive interview, Bird expressed her long-standing interest in broadcasting, stating, "I’ve been circling broadcasting for a long time now. Given NBC’s history and legacy and where the WNBA is now, I am excited to be part of it. It needed to be the right fit, the right people, the right network." Her role will extend beyond analysis; she will also host a series of feature stories offering a behind-the-scenes look at the league, with segments airing on NBC and Peacock.

Adding to the nostalgia and excitement, NBC's coverage will be accompanied by the iconic "Roundball Rock" theme song, instantly recognizable to any basketball fan from the network's NBA and WNBA coverage in the 90s and early 2000s. Bird's rookie season with the Seattle Storm in 2002 coincided with NBC's last year broadcasting the WNBA, making her return to the network alongside the classic anthem a powerful symbolic moment for the league's growth.

NBC Sports executives are thrilled to have a voice of Bird's caliber. Betsy Riley, Senior Vice President and WNBA Coordinating Producer, praised Bird as "arguably the most accomplished player in the history of the WNBA," highlighting that her unmatched knowledge will bring fans closer to the game. With over 20 games scheduled across the regular season and playoffs, Bird's insightful analysis and storytelling promise to be a major highlight for viewers tuning into this historic WNBA season.