USA Basketball 2018 Women’s World Cup Team finalized
The 2018 USA Basketball Women’s World Cup Team was finalized ahead of the Sept. 22-30 FIBA World Cup in Tenerife, Spain. The squad includes a mix of returning veterans, with a combined 23 Olympic and World Cup gold medals and an overall 669-39 (.945) winning record in USA Basketball games played.
The team was narrowed down to 13 players before the last cut was made, eliminating Atlanta Dream center Elizabeth Williams.
The team was selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, which is chaired by USA Women’s National Team director Carol Callan.
The USA opens play in preliminary round Group D against Senegal at 1 p.m. EDT on Sept. 22, followed by China at 1 p.m. EDT on Sept. 23 and Latvia at 1 p.m. on Sept. 25. All three of the USA’s preliminary games will be televised on ESPN+, while the quarterfinals and semifinals will be on one of the ESPN channels to be determined and the finals will be carried by ESPN.
The USA will be in the hunt for a third-straight FIBA World Cup gold – a feat it has never before accomplished.
“I feel real good about this team and what it can do to help us defend gold at the World Cup,” said Dawn Staley, USA and University of South Carolina head coach. “I feel that we got the best 12 to represent us, although it was extremely hard getting down to that number. But, that’s what it’s all about, having a great pool of players to get down to 12. We could have easily brought 15 players, but the roster has to be cut down to 12. We have great experience. We have some up-and-coming younger players who need to get experience playing at this level. So, we have a great mix of both, and we are looking forward to forging ahead, getting as much time together as possible before we start and as we continue throughout the tournament.”
2018 USA Basketball Women’s World Cup Team
- Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)
- Tina Charles (New York Liberty)
- Layshia Clarendon (Connecticut Sun)
- Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics)
- Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
- Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
- Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks)
- Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
- Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
- Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm)
- Morgan Tuck (Connecticut Sun)
- A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
