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Published on July 28th, 2019 | by Landon Buford

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Dallas Wings Skylar Diggins-Smith receives Invite To Team USA’s Camp

Ron Baselice/The Dallas Morning News

 

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (July 27, 2019) – With one year until the opening tip of the 2020 Olympic women’s basketball tournament, USA Basketball today unveiled a collaborative and expanded USA Women’s National Team program and training plan that will benefit the growth of women’s basketball across the nation and has the support of the WNBA and, most importantly, the backing of the members of the USA National Team. The program features increased training opportunities that will elevate the USA National Team and its athletes domestically, and include ancillary events designed to inspire future female leaders and promote participation in women’s basketball at all levels.

USA Basketball has secured commitments from eight athletes from the 2019-20 USA National Team pool to participate in five of the team’s training segments that will take place between November 2019 and April 2020. USA Basketball will round out the training camp rosters with additional national team athletes as their schedules allow.

Headlining the program are longtime USA National Team members Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), who own a combined eight Olympic and seven FIBA World Cup gold medals and collaborated with USA Basketball on the expanded national team program.

“I’m very excited about this program,” said Bird. “It’s the right amount of training so we can gear up and get ready for the Olympics, and also it gives us the right amount of exposure where we can really create some momentum heading into the Olympics. It’s not only about trying to win another gold medal, it’s about trying to win our seventh in a row, that’s the story. It gives us a chance to do all of those things, but above all it gives us a chance to get together as potential Olympians and play.”

“As we know, every year it gets tougher,” said Taurasi, who first suited up for USA Basketball in 2000 on a U18 team. “Every competition gets a little bit harder. So, this is a great opportunity to train, play, be in competitive situations with a team that hopefully is going to Tokyo to win a gold medal.

“This was something that, at this point in our careers we know how important it is to have a good, last hurrah and we brainstormed with a couple other players and put together a plan,” Taurasi added. “Carol (Callan) and Jim (Tooley) were very receptive. I think they were actually more excited about the idea than we were. It’s just something that came together literally at dinner on a piece of paper with some crayons.”

Also committed to USA Basketball for the five segments are: three-time Olympic and 2010 World Cup gold medalist Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), 2016 Olympic and 2018 World Cup gold medalist Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics), two-time World Cup gold medalist Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), 2018 World Cup gold medalist A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and USA National Team members Skylar Diggins-Smith (Dallas Wings) and Chelsea Gray (Los Angeles Sparks).

“The fact that USA Basketball is being out front in providing our USA National Team an opportunity to train for the Olympic Games is something that should be highlighted across the country,” said Dawn Staley, USA National Team and University of South Carolina head coach. “The fact that resources are being put into a much-needed area in one, helping women stay closer to home with their families, two, we get to prep for the 2020 Olympic Games and three, it’s an opportunity to be leaders in an area which has been lacking for some time. I’m happy about it because it gives us more opportunity to prep, knowing that the windows get smaller and smaller as we get closer and closer to the Olympic Games for one reason or another. I’m super excited about it. I hope it develops into something that’s long-lasting because it’s needed. Plus, when we have the likes of Diana and Sue leading the way, it always makes for some great preparation.

“Over the past seven years probably is where it’s been felt the most with the lack of preparation time. Just finding windows to prep. This program gives us an opportunity to keep a core group of players together and to build chemistry and cohesion while some of our other players who are in the pool are overseas playing. So, any little bit counts.”

“USA Basketball believes that this new Women’s National Team initiative will help continue to build awareness of the great legacy of the  USA Women’s National Team,” said USA Basketball Chairman Martin Dempsey.  “We owe it to the next generation of young girls and young women who hope to represent their country in the USA Basketball uniform someday to keep these incredibly accomplished athletes and great role models at home and among them.”

“First of all, this program wouldn’t happen without the support of the athletes, USA Basketball Board, WNBA, NCAA, and other women’s basketball stakeholders,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved for their support as our USA Women’s National Team goes for its seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal in 2020. Aside from preparing our national team for the Olympic Games, the objectives of this program are to amplify the profile of not only this team, but women’s basketball as a whole. There is no better way to do that then with the best women’s basketball players in the world.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with USA Basketball on this program to showcase these amazing athletes ahead of the 2020 Olympics,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This is a tremendous opportunity to bolster visibility for women’s basketball and have some of the WNBA’s top players remain in the United States for additional training.”

The USA National Team, which already has qualified for the 2020 Olympics, will take advantage of and participate in FIBA’s new Olympic qualification process, that provides nations with two windows of competition, Nov. 10-18, 2019, and Feb. 2-10, 2020.

As was the case over the past three quadrenniums, the 2019-20 USA National Team roster, which currently lists 34 athletes, will be fluid. It is expected that the official, 12-member 2020 U.S. Olympic Team will be comprised of players from the 2019-20 USA National Team.

In support of growing interest in the sport of women’s basketball at all levels while recognizing the opportunity for current student-athletes to compete against former college stars, the NCAA granted waivers to allow member schools to compete in exhibition games against the 2019-20 USA National Team.

Because of the cooperation by the NCAA and its member schools, prior to the two FIBA tournament windows, the USA National Team will compete in a series of exhibition games against some of the nation’s premier NCAA Division I programs, similar to the college tours conducted by USA Basketball teams ahead of the 1996, 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games. Over the course of those three tours, the USA earned a 39-1 record competing against a combined total of 30 different NCAA Division I teams. The complete game schedule will be announced at a later date.

USA Basketball will also work with the WNBA, NBA, NCAA, and USA Basketball Youth and Sport Development Division to provide the USA National Team athletes with additional opportunities to train and to promote and grow the game across the country.

Members of the USA National Team also will compete in the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup from Sept. 22-29 in Puerto Rico, and participating athletes for that competition will be identified as WNBA teams conclude their season.

In addition to the eight members committed to the national team training windows, current members of the 2019-20 USA National Team include: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Tina Charles (New York Liberty), Layshia Clarendon (Connecticut Sun), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Diamond DeShields (Chicago Sky), Stefanie Dolson (Chicago Sky), Asia Durr (New York Liberty), Allisha Gray (Dallas Wings), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Tiffany Hayes (Atlanta Dream), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kayla McBride (Las Vegas Aces), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Tiffany Mitchell(Indiana Fever), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Chiney Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Katie Lou Samuelson (Chicago Sky), Odyssey Sims (Minnesota Lynx), Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm), Brittney Sykes (Atlanta Dream),Jasmine Thomas (Connecticut Sun), Morgan Tuck (Connecticut Sun), Sydney Wiese (Los Angeles Sparks) and Elizabeth Williams(Atlanta Dream).

Dan Hughes (Seattle Storm), Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) and Jennifer Rizzotti (George Washington), who assisted the USA to a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, are serving as the 2019-20 USA National Team assistant coaches.

Chaired by USA Women’s National Team director Carol Callan, USA National Team athletes were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, which currently includes three-time Olympic and two-time World Cup gold medalist Katie Smith as the athlete representative; representing the WNBA is Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller and Los Angeles Sparks general manager Penny Toler; and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, who coached USA teams to gold medals at the past two Olympics and FIBA World Cups, serves as a special advisor.

Olympic Games Women’s Basketball Competition

Winners of the past six Olympic gold medals, the USA owns a record eight gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal, while compiling an all-time 66-3 record in Olympic play since women’s basketball was first introduced to the Olympic program in 1976.

In 2016, the most recent Olympic Games, the U.S. took the gold medal, while Spain captured silver and Serbia won bronze.

The USA, by virtue of winning the gold medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, and host Japan already have secured berths into the 2020 tournament. The remaining 10 teams will qualify through the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

The 2020 Olympic competition will see a different tournament format launched in 2020. The 12 teams will be split into three groups of four teams apiece for preliminary play, held July 27-Aug. 3.

Following the preliminary round, teams will be seeded, and the top two teams from each group and the two best third place teams, according to FIBA’s placement rules, will qualify for the medal round. In the medal round, teams will compete in a knockout bracket, with winners advancing from the Aug. 5 quarterfinals to the Aug. 7 semifinals. The gold medal game will be played on Aug. 9, on the morning of the 2020 closing ceremony.

About USA Basketball

Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five and 3×3 international competitions, as well as for some national competitions and for the development of youth basketball.

The USA Basketball Youth Development division is tasked with the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety, while promoting, growing, and elevating the game. USA Basketball is committed to providing youth throughout the country safe, fun and developmentally appropriate environments in which they can enjoy the game. Current USA Basketball youth initiatives include coach licensing and education; organization accreditation; coach academies; regional camps; youth clinics; open court programs; Women in the Game conferences; and the U.S. Open Basketball Championships.

Connect with USA Basketball at USAB.com and on Facebook (USABasketball and USABYouth), Twitter (@usabasketball, @USABYouth, @USAB3x3), Instagram (@USABasketball) and YouTube (usabasketball).

 

 

2019-20 USA Basketball Women’s National Team Pool

NAME                                 POS     HGT     WGT   AGE  WNBA TEAM                                            UNIVERSITY     HOMETOWN                                       

Seimone Augustus             G/F      6-0       170      35     Minnesota Lynx                                            Louisiana State ‘06     Baton Rouge, LA

Sue Bird                              G         5-9       150      38     Seattle Storm                                            Connecticut ’02          Syosset, NY

Tina Charles                        C          6-4       192      30     New York Liberty                                            Connecticut ’10          Jamaica, NY

Layshia Clarendon              G         5-9       140      28     Connecticut Sun                                            California ’13  San Bernardino, CA

Napheesa Collier                G/F      6-1       183      22     Minnesota Lynx                                            Connecticut ’19          O’Fallon, MO

Elena Delle Donne              F/G      6-5       188      29     Washington Mystics                                            Delaware ’13   Wilmington, DE

Diamond DeShields            G         6-1       155      24     Chicago Sky                                            Tennessee ‘17 Norcross, GA

Skylar Diggins-Smith           G         6-0       165      28     Dallas Wings                                            Notre Dame ’13          South Bend, IN

Stefanie Dolson                  C/F      6-5       214      27     Chicago Sky                                            Connecticut ’14          Port Jervis, NY

Asia Durr                             G         5-10     153      22     New York Liberty                                            Louisville ’19   Douglasville, GA

Sylvia Fowles                      C          6-6       212      33     Minnesota Lynx                                            Louisiana State ‘08     Miami, FL

Allisha Gray                        G         6-0       167      24     Dallas Wings                                            South Carolina ’17      Sandersville, GA

Chelsea Gray                      G         5-11     170      26     Los Angeles Sparks                                            Duke ’14          Manteca, CA

Brittney Griner                   C          6-9       205      28     Phoenix Mercury                                            Baylor ‘13        Houston, TX

Tiffany Hayes                      G         5-10     155      29     Atlanta Dream                                            Connecticut ‘12          Lakeland, FL

Jewell Loyd                         G         5-11     150      25     Seattle Storm                                            Notre Dame ’15          Lincolnwood, IL

Kayla McBride                    G         5-11     174      27     Las Vegas Aces                                            Notre Dame ’14          Erie, PA

Angel McCoughtry             G/F      6-1       160      32     Atlanta Dream                                            Louisville ‘09   Baltimore, MD

Kelsey Mitchell                   F          5-8       154      23     Indiana Fever                                            Ohio State ’18 Cincinnati, OH

Tiffany Mitchell                  G         5-9       154      24     Indiana Fever                                            South Carolina ’16      Charlotte, NC

Maya Moore                       F          6-0       177      30     Minnesota Lynx                                            Connecticut ‘11          Lawrenceville, GA

Chiney Ogwumike              F          6-4       173      27     Los Angeles Sparks                                            Stanford ’14    Cypress, TX

Nneka Ogwumike               F          6-2       188      29     Los Angeles Sparks                                            Stanford ‘12    Cypress, TX

Kelsey Plum                        G         5-8       145      24     Las Vegas Aces                                            Washington ’17          Poway, CA

Katie Lou Samuelson          G/F      6-3       165      22     Chicago Sky                                            Connecticut ’19          Huntington Beach, CA

Odyssey Sims                      G         5-8       160      27     Minnesota Lynx                                            Baylor ’14        Irving, TX

Breanna Stewart                F          6-4       170      24     Seattle Storm                                            Connecticut ‘16          North Syracuse, NY

Brittney Sykes                     G         5-9       146      25     Atlanta Dream                                            Syracuse ‘17    Newark, NJ

Diana Taurasi                     G         6-0       164      37     Phoenix Mercury                                            Connecticut ‘04          Chino, CA

Jasmine Thomas                 G         5-9       145      29     Connecticut Sun                                            Duke ’11          Vienna, VA

Morgan Tuck                      F          6-2       200      25     Connecticut Sun                                            Connecticut ‘16          Bolingbrook, IL

Sydney Wiese                     G         6-0       155      24     Los Angeles Sparks                                            Oregon State ’17        Phoenix, AZ

Elizabeth Williams              C          6-3       192      26     Atlanta Dream                                            Duke ‘15          Virginia Beach, VA

A’ja Wilson                         F          6-5       197      22     Las Vegas Aces                                            South Carolina ’18      Hopkins, SC

Head Coach: Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina

Assistant Coach: Dan Hughes, Seattle Storm

Assistant Coach: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx

Assistant Coach: Jennifer Rizzotti, George Washington University


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