SEATTLE — Seattle Storm legend and five-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird is trading in her jersey for a front office role — as the first managing director of the U.S. Women’s National Basketball Team.

Beyond the hardwood, Bird remains a vocal advocate for equality and social justice.

Joyce Taylor spoke with Bird via Zoom about her ongoing commitment to community ahead of her visit to Seattle on Thursday, where she will be the featured speaker at Habitat for Humanity’s annual fundraiser.

“It's synonymous with helping people find affordable housing. It's synonymous with, in a sense, doing the right thing,” Bird said. 

“I obviously feel very passionately about the Seattle community, the state of Washington. I always joke — I know I'm not from there originally, but I really feel like in so many ways, I grew up there. So to be able to connect with Habitat for Humanity, to be a part of this event, to help raise funds for something that I really believe in, which is the community and caring for it and in this regard, it's about affordable housing.”

Habitat’s annual “Beyond the Build” luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, at the Seattle Convention Center. Event information can be found here. 

You can watch the full conversation with Sue Bird — on the record about what it takes to build a gold medal roster, family planning, and what she hopes to leave the next generation of athletes — tomorrow on KING 5 News at 5 p.m.