WNBA Stars Dominate US Women Pool

By Kate Bennert, WNBA.com

USA Basketball has announced the pool of women's players who will represent the USA in internal competition for 2014-2016, and what a pool it is! The list includes veteran WNBA and USA Basketball players like Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, and Sue Bird; WNBA sophomores and USAB newcomers such as Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins, and Brittney Griner; and 6 college players. USA Basketball will use this pool of talent to select a national team to compete at the FIBA 3x3 World Championship in Moscow (June 5-7, 2014), the FIBA World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey (Sept. 27-Oct. 5, 2014), the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto (July 10-26, 2015), and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janiero, Brazil (August 5-21, 2016).

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Since women's basketball became an Olympic event in 1976, the United States has won seven gold medals -- including an unprecedented five straight team Olympic gold medals, culminating with the legendary 2012 London Olympic squad. The United States has also won a total of eight FIBA World Championships since the tournament's beginning in 1953 and are the current defending champs after defeating the Czech Republic 89-69 in 2010.

The full list of players selected for the pool is below.

2014-16 USA Women's Basketball Pool

DIANA TAURASI

INTERNATIONAL

3-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012), FIBA World Champion (2010), FIBA Bronze Medalist (2006)

WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2004), 5-time WNBA All-Star (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011), 2-time WNBA Champion (2007, 2009), 5-time WNBA scoring champion (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011), WNBA Most Valuable Player (2009), WNBA Finals MVP (2009)

TAMIKA CATCHINGS

INTERNATIONAL

3-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012), 2-time FIBA World Champion (2010, 2002), FIBA Bronze Medalist (2006)

WNBA

7-time WNBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005�2007, 2009, 2011), 5-time Defensive Player of the Year (2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012), Rookie of the Year (2002), 2-time Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award (2010, 2013), WNBA Most Valuable Player (2011), WNBA Champion (2012), WNBA Finals MVP (2012)

SUE BIRD

INTERNATIONAL

3-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, 2012), 2-time FIBA World Champion (2010, 2002), FIBA Bronze Medalist (2006), Jones Cup Gold Medalist (2000)

WNBA

WNBA All-Decade Team, 7-time WNBA All-Star (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011), 2-time WNBA Champion (2004, 2010)

SEIMONE AUGUSTUS

INTERNATIONAL

2-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012), FIBA Bronze Medalist (2006)

WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2006), 4-time WNBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2011, 2013), 2-time WNBA Champion (2011, 2013), WNBA Finals MVP (2011)

CANDACE PARKER

INTERNATIONAL

2-time Olympic gold medalist (2008, 2012)

WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008), WNBA MVP (2008, 2013), 2-time WNBA All-Star (2011, 2013), WNBA All-Star MVP (2013), 2-time WNBA rebounding champion (2008, 2009)

MAYA MOORE

INTERNATIONAL

Olympic gold medalist (2012), FIBA Gold Medalist (2010)

WNBA

2-time WNBA Champion (2011, 2013), 2-time WNBA All-Star (2011, 2013), WNBA Rookie of the Year (2011), WNBA Finals MVP (2013)

TINA CHARLES

INTERNATIONAL

Olympic Gold Medalist (2012), FIBA World Champion (2010)

WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2010), WNBA All-Star (2011), WNBA Most Valuable Player (2012), 3-time WNBA rebounding champion (2010, 2011, 2012)

ANGEL MCCOUGHTRY

INTERNATIONAL

Olympic Gold Medalist (2012), Pan American Games Gold Medalist 2007

WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2009), WNBA All-Star (2011), 2-time WNBA scoring champion (2012, 2013)

LINDSAY WHALEN

INTERNATIONAL

Olympic Gold Medalist (2012), FIBA World Champion (2010)

WNBA

4-time WNBA All-Star (2006, 2010, 2011, 2013), 3-time WNBA Peak Performer (Assists) (2008, 2011, 2012), 2-time WNBA Champion (2011, 2013)

CAPPIE PONDEXTER

INTERNATIONAL

Olympic Gold Medalist (2008)

WNBA

4-time WNBA All-Star (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011), 2-time WNBA Champion (2007, 2009), WNBA Finals MVP (2007)

KARA LAWSON

INTERNATIONAL

Olympic Gold Medalist (2008)

WNBA

WNBA All-Star (2007), WNBA Champion (2005)

SYLVIA FOWLES

INTERNATIONAL

2-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2008, 2012), FIBA World Champion (2010)

WNBA

3-time WNBA All-Star (2009, 2011, 2013), 2-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2011, 2013), 2-time WNBA blocks leader (2010, 2011), WNBA rebounds leader (2013)

JAYNE APPEL

INTERNATIONAL

FIBA World Champion (2010), Pan American Games Gold Medalist (2007)

WNBA

2010 first-round draft pick for the San Antonio Stars

CANDICE DUPREE

INTERNATIONAL

FIBA World Champion 2010

WNBA

3-time WNBA All-Star

DEWANNA BONNER

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

3-time Sixth Woman of the Year

ELENA DELLE DONNE

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2013), WNBA All-Star (2013)

SKYLAR DIGGINS

INTERNATIONAL

3x3 World Champion (2012)

WNBA

Third overall 2013 draft pick for the Tulsa Shock

BRITTNEY GRINER

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

WNBA All-Star (2013)

LINDSEY HARDING

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

First overall 2007 draft pick

BRIANN JANUARY

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

Sixth overall 2009 draft pick for the Indiana Fever

GLORY JOHNSON

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

First round 2012 draft pick for the Tulsa Shock

JANTEL LAVENDER

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

Fifth overall 2011 draft pick for the Los Angeles Sparks

NNEKA OGWUMIKE

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2012)

DANIELLE ROBINSON

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

WNBA All-Star (2013), WNBA Peak Performer (Assists) (2013)

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

WNBA All-Star (2011)

MONICA WRIGHT

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

2-time WNBA Champion (2011, 2013)

SOPHIA YOUNG

INTERNATIONAL

International Rookie

WNBA

3-time WNBA All-Star

Also included in the pool: Stefanie Dolson (University of Connecticut), Kayla McBride (University of Notre Dame), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (University of Connecticut), Odyssey Sims (Baylor University), Breanna Stewart(University of Connecticut), Alyssa Thomas (University of Maryland)