22 USA Women’s National Team Members Set To Attend May 10-12 Training Camp In Las Vegas

-- Brittney Griner, Courtney Vandersloot Added To Training Camp Roster --

 

USA Basketball National Team veteran Diana Taurasi is one of 24 players expected to participate in the USA National Team training May 10-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

USA Basketball

• USA Women's National Team May Training Camp Roster

Twenty-two members of the 2009-12 USA Basketball Women’s National Team, including all 12 who aided the USA to the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal, will attend the USA National Team’s May 10-12 training camp in Las Vegas, Nev., USA Basketball today announced. Additionally, Baylor University sophomore Brittney Griner and the Chicago Sky’s Courtney Vandersloot have accepted invitations to participate in the camp in the hopes of being added to the USA National Team pool.

Gathering for the first time since winning the 2010 FIBA World Championship gold medal, the USA National Team’s training camp will be held each day at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion starting at 10:00 a.m. (PDT).
“I can’t wait to get these guys on the court in Vegas,” said Geno Auriemma, 2009-12 USA National Team and University of Connecticut head coach. “This is going to be the first time we’ve had this many together and healthy at a training camp, and it’ll be interesting to see how bad some of these guys want to make the Olympic team, how much they hustle, fight for rebounds, I’m really looking forward to that.
“Then you add in the two new kids, Griner and Vandersloot. I’m anxious to see how they interact with some of the veterans. Certainly they’re a couple of great players, but I’m excited to see them go up against our National Team and try to earn their spot in our pool.”
Participating in the training camp are USA National Team members Jayne Appel (San Antonio Silver Stars), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota Lynx), Swin Cash (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Shameka Christon (Chicago Sky), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Lindsey Harding (Atlanta Dream), Ebony Hoffman (Los Angeles Sparks), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Kia Vaughn (New York Liberty), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx) and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx).
The 2011 WBCA National Defensive Player of the Year, Griner was also a finalist for the 2011 Naismith Award, Wade Trophy and John R. Wooden Award. The All-American in 2010-11 averaged team-highs of 23.0 ppg. and 7.8 rpg., while also pacing the nation in blocked shots with 170. In leading Baylor to a 34-3 record, the Big 12 Conference Tournament and regular season crowns and the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, the 6-8 center also collected the Big 12 Player of the Year, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Tournament MVP honors.
The No. 3 selection in the 2011 WNBA Draft, Vandersloot capped the 2010-11 season by leading Gonzaga University to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, the West Coast Conference Tournament and regular season titles and a 31-5 record. She earned numerous All-America accolades, took home the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the nation’s top player 5-8 and under, was named the WCC Player of the Year and also was named to the NCAA Tournament All-Spokane Regional Team. In her final year at Gonzaga, the 5-8 guard averaged a double-double of 19.8 ppg. and 10.2 apg.
Four head coaches, Doug Bruno (DePaul University), Corey Gaines (Phoenix Mercury), Jennifer Gillom (Los Angeles Sparks) and Marynell Meadors (Atlanta Dream), will serve as court coaches during training, and will work with Auriemma and the participating USA National Team members during the three-day camp.
Four-time defending Olympic gold medalists, the U.S. will look to capture a fifth straight gold medal and extend its 33-game Olympic winning streak at the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London. The Olympic basketball competition will be held July 28-Aug. 12 in the Olympic Park Basketball Arena and North Greenwich Arena. Aside from the host country Great Britain and the United States, which earned its berth by virtue of claiming the gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, the 12-nation field has not yet been set for the 2012 Olympic Games.