WNBA.com is on the ground for the USAB Womens National Team Training Camp as the team prepares for the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Turkey (Sept. 27-Oct. 5). Follow along each day on WNBA.com and social channels: Twitter, Instagram, Vine
During day three of practice, the Team USA coaching staff experimented with some 3 guard line-ups (that many times included Skylar Diggins) to help replace the last of big's on the team. We also saw Nneka Ogwumike bring strong energy for the second straight day and witnessed Stefanie Dolson find her comfort zone on the court. Here are more details from day three:
Competition, Competition, Competition:
+ For the first time since training camp started, the squad was split in two (red vs. white) and went head to head against each other. And before practice began, Coach Geno Auriemma let the players know that this was a day that they should impress.
+ Todays practice consisted of four sessions. The first two were dedicated to offensive sets and inbounds plays, while the second two were a preview for tomorrow nights red vs. white scrimmage.
+ The red squad, featuring Maya Moore, Angel McCoughtry, Lindsay Whalen, Stefanie Dolson, Odyssey Sims, Jantel Lavender, Danielle Robinson, Kayla McBride and Chiney Ogwumike, won both sessions of the scrimmage that included a 21-7 drubbing in the first. The group was able to control the ball and force the white squad into a few turnovers.
The MVP @mooremaya throws the lob to @Angel_35 for the nice finish. #VineLites #USABWNT https://t.co/2vHQT9JvT6
WNBA (@WNBA) September 10, 2014
The Real M-V-P :
+ With so much talent at camp, there is still one player who stands out above the rest. Thats the WNBAs MVP, Maya Moore. Offensively, Moore seems to find her spots with ease no matter who is defending her. On top of being able to create her own shot, she has used her incredible basketball IQ to set up teammates and help some of the younger players understand the concepts that Auriemma is running. But Moore isnt just a one-way player either. In todays practice, she played a little at the 4 position and held her own down low against some of the other bigs in camp--recording a couple of blocked shots and creating a few turnovers.
Maya Moore starts off scrimmage with back to back buckets. #MVP #USABWNT
The Birthday Girl Has Moves:
+ Players internationally are going to have to keep an eye out for Angel McCoughtry. She continuously crashed the boards today on the offensive end to keep possessions alive and used some slick back-down cuts and screens to find open lanes to the bucket. With McCoughtry and Moore on the floor together, teams are going to have their hands full--just ask the white squad.
Check out @mccoughtry's new #BirthdayKicks courtesy of @usabasketball. #USAKicks
Moment of the Day:
+ Before practice, the entire USA Basketball team serenaded Angel McCoughtry for her birthday.
+ And instead of the normal stretching and running drills to warm up, the team played a quick game (everything the team does is quick) of tag with the birthday girl being IT.
Happy birthday to Angel McCoughtry!!
Social Media Moment of the Day:
+ Rookies Odyssey Sims and Chiney Ogwumike took over the WNBA Snapchat (Add: wnba) account and posted some amazing content. Its as close to must watch content as youre going to get.
Some rookies taking over the WNBA Snapchat right now! #USABWNT
The rookie takeover continues on WNBA Snapchat.
Nneka Ogwumike:
Briann January with the nice post pass to a cutting Nneka for the finish. #VineLites #USABWNT https://t.co/JfEKtYnMw4
WNBA (@WNBA) September 10, 2014
Good ball movement leads to another easy layup for Nneka. #Vinelites #USABWNT https://t.co/O1kUu1GgHS
WNBA (@WNBA) September 10, 2014