A show that redefined the entertainment quotient of the NCAA Women’s Championships Final Four for six years is coming to a close. The Bird & Taurasi show, hosted by legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, which was a major alternate broadcast during this Final Four, is being discontinued by ESPN as it bids farewell to these legends. Now, the ESPN senior vice-president of broadcasting has shared her two cents on this decision.

The Bird & Taurasi show was known for its relaxed commentary, mainly broadcast on ESPN 2 and ESPN+. It brought immense appeal to the Final Four itself, attracting 1.4 million people during the 2024 NCAA Championship game between Iowa and South Carolina. However, senior ESPN vice-president Meg Aronowitz has commented that the broadcasting giant is aiming to move on from this concept and bring in new talent and ideas, per sports journalist Aya Abdeen.

“We’re working on those now. I am not in a position to announce who the talent is going to be, but we’re excited about the prospect that we think it’s going to be, Aronowitz said. “And really it’s just for us trying to give the audience that is something little different, a little different type of energy.”

“I don’t want to get into too many details because we’re not ready to reveal exactly what the show is going to be. We loved our time with Sue and Diana, and they loved being a part of it, but sometimes you need to shake things a little bit,” Aronowitz further added.

Being former teammates at UConn, Bird and Taurasi shared a camaraderie that transcended beyond the court. This closeness was perfectly reflected in their unfiltered commentary, unlike the mainstream formal stints. Additionally, the perspectives of two former WNBA champions added credibility and weight, thanks to their legacies in the sport.

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The event has hosted several women’s basketball stars, including Caitlin Clark at the 2025 NCAA Championship game between UConn and South Carolina. Besides the NCAA Final Four, the Bird-Taurasi show has also covered NBA games, including the 2023 Christmas Day game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the New York Knicks, with guests such as Tyrese Haliburton also attending this altcast.

All in all, these numbers and fandom quietly signal that it won’t be easy for ESPN to rope in icons who can fill the shoes of these legends, especially given the popularity it has built. ESPN does have several other altcasts, such as Beyond the Rim and On the Rail, that strive to give the viewers a unique experience through camera angles. However, for the fans, the Bird & Taurasi show carried a different emotion.

With the NCAA Women’s Final Four scheduled for April 3, we’ll have to play the waiting game for any new altcast on ESPN and see if it can build a similar fandom. However, for now, Sue Bird looks forward to her basketball endeavors in the upcoming months.

Sue Bird Has an Important Role to Play for the USA Outside Broadcasting

Despite her retirement from the sport in 2022, Bird continues to play a defining role for the US National team. In her role as the team’s managing director, the four-time WNBA champion is responsible for the team’s selection for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics.

So far in her stint, Bird hasn’t put a step wrong. Her role in selection for the 2026 Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament adds more weight to it. Bird has shown her faith in young prodigies like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, rostering them to establish a perfect mix of experience and flamboyance.

Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Rhyne Howard are the other senior counterparts who will bring in experience to the roster. However, the pressure on Bird will be even more during the team selection for the World Cup in September. With veterans like Napheesa Collier possibly coming out of an injury by then, Bird will have a formidable challenge.

The US National team will chase its fifth consecutive World Cup title in Germany. And as team managing director, Sue Bird will be pulling the strings behind the scenes to make it happen. However, for now, the wait is worth it as we see if Bird can carry her success from the court to the front office. Do let us know in the comments.