LYNX: Smith Named To USA Basketball World Championship Team

Smith Named To USA Basketball World Championship Team

Jul 16 2004 3:44PM

Smith earned a gold medal with the U.S. team at the last FIBA World Championships, in Germany in 1998.
Photo courtesy USA Basketball

June 26, 2002 — Lynx forward Katie Smith, a 2000 Olympic and 1998 World Championship gold medalist, has been selected as a member of the 2002 USA Basketball Women's World Championship Team, it was announced today by USA Basketball.

Smith and the 12-member team will participate in the 14th FIBA World Championship for Women, featuring national teams from 16 nations competing in nine cities in the People's Republic of China from Sept. 14-25. The U.S. will face Russia, Lithuania and Chinese Taipei in preliminary round play on Sept. 14-16.

"This is definitely a big event, something that we're going to take a lot of pride in, and we're going to go out there and keep our title as the world's best," Smith said. "I think USA Basketball has the best players in the world, and it's our responsibility to go out and play like it. We've got a great squad and whoever else is added will make this team even better. I'm excited about the Worlds. I know we have the talent, and we'll put it to work and get it done."

Along with Smith, Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Shannon Johnson (Orlando Miracle) and Tina Thompson (Houston Comets) were also selected today as members of the 2002 U.S. World Championship team. Those four players join previously announced team members Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks), Dawn Staley (Charlotte Sting), Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets) and Natalie Williams (Utah Starzz). The remaining four roster spots will be filled at a later date.

Smith, who currently leads the Lynx with 17.0 ppg, is a veteran of USA Basketball. She has won gold medals at the 2000 Olympics, 1998 FIBA World Championship, 1999 U.S. Olympic Cup, 1996 R. William Jones Cup and the 1994 Goodwill Games, and earned silver medals with USA teams at the 1997 World Championship Qualifying Tournament and 1995 World University Games.

Smith, who set seven single-season WNBA records in 2001, led the league with 23.1 ppg on her way to garnering 2001 All-WNBA First Team honors. In 2001, Smith joined Utah's Natalie Williams as the only players in the history of U.S. women's professional basketball (ABL/WNBA) to score 3,000 points.

The United States earned a gold medal with an unblemished 9-0 record at the 1998 World Championship in Germany. The USA owns a 71-20 overall record (.780 winning percentage) in World Championship play and has won six golds, one silver and one bronze medal in the 12 previous FIBA World Championships in which the U.S. competed. The FIBA World Championships are held every four years.