USA Basketball Unveils 2019-20 Women’s National Team Training Plan to Showcase USA Team Across the Country Ahead of 2020 Olympics


– USA WNT Program Scheduled in Collaboration with Athletes, WNBA –

LAS VEGAS (July 27, 2019) – With one year until the opening tip of the 2020 Olympic women’s basketball tournament, USA Basketball today unveiled a collaborative and expanded USA Women’s National Team program and training plan that will benefit the growth of women’s basketball across the nation and has the support of the WNBA and, most importantly, the backing of the members of the USA National Team. The program features increased training opportunities that will elevate the USA National Team and its athletes domestically, and include ancillary events designed to inspire future female leaders and promote participation in women’s basketball at all levels.

USA Basketball has secured commitments from eight athletes from the 2019-20 USA National Team pool to participate in five of the team’s training segments that will take place between November 2019 and April 2020. USA Basketball will round out the training camp rosters with additional national team athletes as their schedules allow.

Headlining the program are longtime USA National Team members Sue Bird (Seattle Storm) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), who own a combined eight Olympic and seven FIBA World Cup gold medals and collaborated with USA Basketball on the expanded national team program.

“I’m very excited about this program,” said Bird. “It’s the right amount of training so we can gear up and get ready for the Olympics, and also it gives us the right amount of exposure where we can really create some momentum heading into the Olympics. It’s not only about trying to win another gold medal, it’s about trying to win our seventh in a row, that’s the story. It gives us a chance to do all of those things, but above all it gives us a chance to get together as potential Olympians and play.”

“As we know, every year it gets tougher,” said Taurasi, who first suited up for USA Basketball in 2000 on a U18 team. “Every competition gets a little bit harder. So, this is a great opportunity to train, play, be in competitive situations with a team that hopefully is going to Tokyo to win a gold medal.

“This was something that, at this point in our careers we know how important it is to have a good, last hurrah and we brainstormed with a couple other players and put together a plan,” Taurasi added. “Carol (Callan) and Jim (Tooley) were very receptive. I think they were actually more excited about the idea than we were. It’s just something that came together literally at dinner on a piece of paper with some crayons.”

Also committed to USA Basketball for the five segments are: three-time Olympic and 2010 World Cup gold medalist Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), 2016 Olympic and 2018 World Cup gold medalist Elena Delle Donne (Washington Mystics), two-time World Cup gold medalist Nneka Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), 2018 World Cup gold medalist A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) and USA National Team members Skylar Diggins-Smith (Dallas Wings) and Chelsea Gray (Los Angeles Sparks).

“The fact that USA Basketball is being out front in providing our USA National Team an opportunity to train for the Olympic Games is something that should be highlighted across the country,” said Dawn Staley, USA National Team and University of South Carolina head coach. “The fact that resources are being put into a much needed area in one, helping women stay closer to home with their families, two, we get to prep for the 2020 Olympic Games and three, it’s an opportunity to be leaders in an area which has been lacking for some time. I’m happy about it because it gives us more opportunity to prep, knowing that the windows get smaller and smaller as we get closer and closer to the Olympic Games for one reason or another. I’m super excited about it. I hope it develops into something that’s long-lasting, because it’s needed. Plus, when we have the likes of Diana and Sue leading the way, it always makes for some great preparation.

“Over the past seven years probably is where it’s been felt the most with the lack of preparation time. Just finding windows to prep. This program gives us an opportunity to keep a core group of players together and to build chemistry and cohesion while some of our other players who are in the pool are overseas playing. So, any little bit counts.”

“USA Basketball believes that this new Women’s National Team initiative will help continue to build awareness of the great legacy of the USA Women’s National Team,” said USA Basketball Chairman Martin Dempsey. “We owe it to the next generation of young girls and young women who hope to represent their country in the USA Basketball uniform someday to keep these incredibly accomplished athletes and great role models at home and among them.”

“First of all, this program wouldn’t happen without the support of the athletes, USA Basketball Board, WNBA, NCAA and other women’s basketball stakeholders,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO. “I extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved for their support as our USA Women’s National Team goes for its seventh consecutive Olympic gold medal in 2020. Aside from preparing our national team for the Olympic Games, the objectives of this program are to amplify the profile of not only this team, but women’s basketball as a whole. There is no better way to do that then with the best women’s basketball players in the world.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with USA Basketball on this program to showcase these amazing athletes ahead of the 2020 Olympics,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “This is a tremendous opportunity to bolster visibility for women’s basketball and have some of the WNBA’s top players remain in the United States for additional training.”

The USA National Team, which already has qualified for the 2020 Olympics, will take advantage of and participate in FIBA’s new Olympic qualification process, that provides nations with two windows of competition, Nov. 10-18, 2019, and Feb. 2-10, 2020.

As was the case over the past three quadrenniums, the 2019-20 USA National Team roster, which currently lists 34 athletes, will be fluid. It is expected that the official, 12-member 2020 U.S. Olympic Team will be comprised of players from the 2019-20 USA National Team.

In support of growing interest in the sport of women’s basketball at all levels while recognizing the opportunity for current student-athletes to compete against former college stars, the NCAA granted waivers to allow member schools to compete in exhibition games against the 2019-20 USA National Team.

Because of the cooperation by the NCAA and its member schools, prior to the two FIBA tournament windows, the USA National Team will compete in a series of exhibition games against some of the nation’s premier NCAA Division I programs, similar to the college tours conducted by USA Basketball teams ahead of the 1996, 2000 and 2008 Olympic Games. Over the course of those three tours, the USA earned a 39-1 record competing against a combined total of 30 different NCAA Division I teams. The complete game schedule will be announced at a later date.

USA Basketball will also work with the WNBA, NBA, NCAA, and USA Basketball Youth and Sport Development Division to provide the USA National Team athletes with additional opportunities to train and to promote and grow the game across the country.

Members of the USA National Team also will compete in the 2019 FIBA AmeriCup from Sept. 22-29 in Puerto Rico, and participating athletes for that competition will be identified as WNBA teams conclude their season.

In addition to the eight members committed to the national team training windows, current members of the 2019-20 USA National Team include: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Tina Charles (New York Liberty), Layshia Clarendon (Connecticut Sun), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Diamond DeShields (Chicago Sky), Stefanie Dolson (Chicago Sky), Asia Durr (New York Liberty), Allisha Gray (Dallas Wings), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Tiffany Hayes (Atlanta Dream), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kayla McBride (Las Vegas Aces), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Tiffany Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Chiney Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Katie Lou Samuelson (Chicago Sky), Odyssey Sims (Minnesota Lynx), Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm), Brittney Sykes (Atlanta Dream), Jasmine Thomas (Connecticut Sun), Morgan Tuck (Connecticut Sun), Sydney Wiese (Los Angeles Sparks) and Elizabeth Williams (Atlanta Dream).

Dan Hughes (Seattle Storm), Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) and Jennifer Rizzotti (George Washington), who assisted the USA to a gold medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, are serving as the 2019-20 USA National Team assistant coaches.

Chaired by USA Women’s National Team director Carol Callan, USA National Team athletes were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, which currently includes three-time Olympic and two-time World Cup gold medalist Katie Smith as the athlete representative; representing the WNBA is Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller and Los Angeles Sparks general manager Penny Toler; and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, who coached USA teams to gold medals at the past two Olympics and FIBA World Cups, serves as a special advisor.

Olympic Games Women’s Basketball Competition
Winners of the past six Olympic gold medals, the USA owns a record eight gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal, while compiling an all-time 66-3 record in Olympic play since women’s basketball was first introduced to the Olympic program in 1976.

In 2016, the most recent Olympic Games, the U.S. took the gold medal, while Spain captured silver and Serbia won bronze.

The USA, by virtue of winning the gold medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup, and host Japan already have secured berths into the 2020 tournament. The remaining 10 teams will qualify through the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

The 2020 Olympic competition will see a different tournament format launched in 2020. The 12 teams will be split into three groups of four teams apiece for preliminary play, held July 27-Aug. 3.

Following the preliminary round, teams will be seeded, and the top two teams from each group and the two best third place teams, according to FIBA’s placement rules, will qualify for the medal round. In the medal round, teams will compete in a knockout bracket, with winners advancing from the Aug. 5 quarterfinals to the Aug. 7 semifinals. The gold medal game will be played on Aug. 9, on the morning of the 2020 closing ceremony.

About USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and chaired by retired Gen. Martin Dempsey, USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA national teams that compete in FIBA-sponsored five-on-five and 3×3 international competitions, as well as for some national competitions and for the development of youth basketball.

The USA Basketball Youth Development division is tasked with the development of youth basketball initiatives that address player development, coach education and safety, while promoting, growing, and elevating the game. USA Basketball is committed to providing youth throughout the country safe, fun and developmentally appropriate environments in which they can enjoy the game. Current USA Basketball youth initiatives include coach licensing and education; organization accreditation; coach academies; regional camps; youth clinics; open court programs; Women in the Game conferences; and the U.S. Open Basketball Championships.

Connect with USA Basketball at USAB.com and on Facebook (USABasketball and USABYouth), Twitter (@usabasketball, @USABYouth, @USAB3x3), Instagram (@USABasketball) and YouTube (usabasketball).

2019-20 USA Basketball Women’s National Team Pool

NAME POS HGT WGT AGE WNBA TEAM UNIVERSITY HOMETOWN
Seimone Augustus G/F 6-0 170 35 Minnesota Lynx Louisiana State ‘06 Baton Rouge, LA
Sue Bird G 5-9 150 38 Seattle Storm Connecticut ’02 Syosset, NY
Tina Charles C 6-4 192 30 New York Liberty Connecticut ’10 Jamaica, NY
Layshia Clarendon G 5-9 140 28 Connecticut Sun California ’13 San Bernardino, CA
Napheesa Collier G/F 6-1 183 22 Minnesota Lynx Connecticut ’19 O’Fallon, MO
Elena Delle Donne F/G 6-5 188 29 Washington Mystics Delaware ’13 Wilmington, DE
Diamond DeShields G 6-1 155 24 Chicago Sky Tennessee ‘17 Norcross, GA
Skylar Diggins-Smith G 6-0 165 28 Dallas Wings Notre Dame ’13 South Bend, IN
Stefanie Dolson C/F 6-5 214 27 Chicago Sky Connecticut ’14 Port Jervis, NY
Asia Durr G 5-10 153 22 New York Liberty Louisville ’19 Douglasville, GA
Sylvia Fowles C 6-6 212 33 Minnesota Lynx Louisiana State ‘08 Miami, FL
Allisha Gray G 6-0 167 24 Dallas Wings South Carolina ’17 Sandersville, GA
Chelsea Gray G 5-11 170 26 Los Angeles Sparks Duke ’14 Manteca, CA
Brittney Griner C 6-9 205 28 Phoenix Mercury Baylor ‘13 Houston, TX
Tiffany Hayes G 5-10 155 29 Atlanta Dream Connecticut ‘12 Lakeland, FL
Jewell Loyd G 5-11 150 25 Seattle Storm Notre Dame ’15 Lincolnwood, IL
Kayla McBride G 5-11 174 27 Las Vegas Aces Notre Dame ’14 Erie, PA
Angel McCoughtry G/F 6-1 160 32 Atlanta Dream Louisville ‘09 Baltimore, MD
Kelsey Mitchell F 5-8 154 23 Indiana Fever Ohio State ’18 Cincinnati, OH
Tiffany Mitchell G 5-9 154 24 Indiana Fever South Carolina ’16 Charlotte, NC
Maya Moore F 6-0 177 30 Minnesota Lynx Connecticut ‘11 Lawrenceville, GA
Chiney Ogwumike F 6-4 173 27 Los Angeles Sparks Stanford ’14 Cypress, TX
Nneka Ogwumike F 6-2 188 29 Los Angeles Sparks Stanford ‘12 Cypress, TX
Kelsey Plum G 5-8 145 24 Las Vegas Aces Washington ’17 Poway, CA
Katie Lou Samuelson G/F 6-3 165 22 Chicago Sky Connecticut ’19 Huntington Beach, CA
Odyssey Sims G 5-8 160 27 Minnesota Lynx Baylor ’14 Irving, TX
Breanna Stewart F 6-4 170 24 Seattle Storm Connecticut ‘16 North Syracuse, NY
Brittney Sykes G 5-9 146 25 Atlanta Dream Syracuse ‘17 Newark, NJ
Diana Taurasi G 6-0 164 37 Phoenix Mercury Connecticut ‘04 Chino, CA
Jasmine Thomas G 5-9 145 29 Connecticut Sun Duke ’11 Vienna, VA
Morgan Tuck F 6-2 200 25 Connecticut Sun Connecticut ‘16 Bolingbrook, IL
Sydney Wiese G 6-0 155 24 Los Angeles Sparks Oregon State ’17 Phoenix, AZ
Elizabeth Williams C 6-3 192 26 Atlanta Dream Duke ‘15 Virginia Beach, VA
A’ja Wilson F 6-5 197 22 Las Vegas Aces South Carolina ’18 Hopkins, SC

Head Coach: Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina
Assistant Coach: Dan Hughes, Seattle Storm
Assistant Coach: Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota Lynx
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Rizzotti, George Washington University