Sixteen finalists announced for 2018 USA Basketball Women’s World Cup Team
2018 USA Basketball Women’s World Cup Team Finalists
- Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)
- Tina Charles (New York Liberty)
- Layshia Clarendon (Connecticut Sun)
- Napheesa Collier (University of Connecticut)
- Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics)
- Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
- Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
- Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever)
- Tiffany Mitchell (Indiana Fever)
- Nneka Ogwumike Los Angeles Sparks)
- Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
- Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm)
- Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
- Morgan Tuck (Connecticut Sun)
- Elizabeth Williams (Atlanta Dream)
- A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
Sixteen finalists have been selected for the 2018 USA Basketball Women’s World Cup Team. The athletes were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, chaired by USA Women’s National Team director Carol Callan.
“We had a great group of pool players that gave themselves a chance to be a part of the 16, but unfortunately the committee has to get that number down,” said USA and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. “The committee has to form a team that can compete at the highest level, and the unit that they selected should help us accomplish that. I’m just looking forward to leaving the country and playing some different competition, and continuing to create a bond and build the chemistry that is needed to win the World Cup.
The USA will compete in the 2018 FIBA World Cup, Sept. 22-30 in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Prior to arriving in the Canary Islands, the USA will play in a four-team, international tournament in Antibes, France, Sept. 15-17, against Canada, France and Senegal. Griner and Taurasi will join the USA squad in time for the French tournament. Bird, Delle Donne, Loyd and Stewart advanced their teams to the WNBA Finals, and are expected to join the finalists at a later date.
The final 12-member 2018 USA World Cup Team will be selected by the USA Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee prior to the start of the World Cup.
Assisting Staley through the World Cup are Dan Hughes Seattle Storm), who will join the team upon the conclusion of the WNBA Finals, Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) and Jennifer Rizzotti (George Washington).
USA Basketball Schedule
| DATE | TIME | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 9/5 | USA White 100, USA Red 75 Story | Stats | Quotes | Pics |
University of South Carolina, Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC | |
| 9/7 | Canada 76, Japan 69 | Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, CT | |
| 9/8 | USA 74, Canada 68 Story| Stats | Quotes | Pics |
Webster Bank Arena, Bridgeport, CT | |
| 9/10 | USA 102, Japan 87 Story| Stats | Quotes | Pics |
George Washington University, Charles E. Smith Center, Washington, DC | |
| 9/12 | 10 a.m. | Practice | George Washington University, Charles E. Smith Center, Washington, DC |
| 9/13 | 6:35 p.m. | Practice | Azur Arena, Antibes, France |
| 9/14 | 8 a.m. | Practice | Azur Arena, Antibes, France |
| 3 p.m. | Practice | Azur Arena, Antibes, France | |
| 9/15 | 4:30 p.m. | USA-Canada | Azur Arena, Antibes, France |
| 7 p.m. | France-Senegal | Azur Arena, Antibes, France | |
| 9/16 | 4:30 p.m. | Senegal-USA | Azur Arena, Antibes, France |
| 7 p.m. | Canada-France | Azur Arena, Antibes, France | |
| 9/17 | 6 p.m. | Canada-Senegal | Azur Arena, Antibes, France |
| 8:30 p.m. | France-USA | Azur Arena, Antibes, France | |
| 9/19 | TBD | Scrimmage vs. Australia | Tenerife, Canary Islands |
| 9/20 | 9:30 a.m. | Practice | Tenerife, Canary Islands |
| 3:30 p.m. | Practice | Tenerife, Canary Islands | |
| 9/21 | 9:30 a.m. | Practice | Tenerife, Canary Islands |
| 3:30 p.m. | Practice | Tenerife, Canary Islands | |
