Women's Basketball 24.7

"There is no offseason"

Final Roster for Rio 2016!

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The twitterverse were up in arms when it leaked that Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker had been left off of the final roster for the summer Olympics in Rio. In what comes are a surprise to many, the first question is who took her place? I think we can all make an educated guess in who will be new to the Olympic team this summer but before we get to that part, how can you justify leaving Candace Parker off of the National Team?

After resting for the first half of the WNBA season Parker returned to a Sparks team who seemed to have lost all hope. Upon her return, she carried the Sparks to the playoffs averaging 19.4 points, 6.3 assists and 10.1 rebounds per game. In her time with the Olympic team this past October, Parker put up some impressive numbers, she even recorded a triple double. While averaging a team-high 12.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, she lead Team USA to a 4-0 record. 

The USA could field two teams in the Olympics and both would make it to the gold medal game. It has to be an extremely difficult task in choosing only 12 players out of all the talent in the USA pool. Every member on the team deserves their place and we will all be cheering them on to victory!  The final 12-player 2016 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team will be announced Wednesday. The team is selected by the USA Basketball women’s national team player selection committee. UConn coach Geno Auriemma returns as the head coach.

This isn’t an official list but sources say the final roster is as follows;

Lindsey Whalen Minnesota Lynx

Maya Moore Minnesota Lynx

Sylvia Fowles Minnesota Lynx

Seimone Augustus Minnesota Lynx

Sue Bird Seattle Storm

Breanna Stewart Seattle Storm

Diana Taurasi Phoenix Mercury

Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury

Tamika Catchings Indiana Fever

Tina Charles New York Liberty

Angel McCoughtry Atlanta Dream

Elena Delle Donne Chicago Sky

USA Basketball Holds Training Camp at UCONN

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February 22, 2016

The USA basketball Women’s National team are holding a training camp in Storrs, Connecticut from February 21-23. A break in European leagues for the EuroBasket qualifiers gave players playing abroad the opportunity to to descend on the campus of the University of Connecticut to participate in the mini-camp. Those expected to be in attendance, who are all finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team are, Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings(Indiana Fever), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kayla McBride (San Antonio Stars), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Danielle Robinson (San Antonio Stars), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).

A familiar face that many are eager to see back on the court is Diana Taurasi who took the 2015 WNBA season off for varying reasons. ESPN’s Mechelle Vopel caught up with Taurasi in Storrs and they discussed what went on during her “off season” and what she is looking forward to this coming summer. You can check the article out here. Although this training camp will last for only three days it is invaluable for these players to be able to get on the court at the same time while having to navigate conflicting schedules. Camp will especially be beneficial to the younger players who are looking to get noticed by USA basketball and perhaps find their way onto the roster for the olympics in Rio this summer. USA basketball shared some highlights from day one;

   

Finalist Announced For U.S. Women’s Olympic Team

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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: USA versus France during their Basketball Game on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the North Greenwich Arena on August 11, 2012 in London, England. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: USA versus France during their Basketball Game on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the North Greenwich Arena on August 11, 2012 in London, England. Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

25 player’s have been chosen to compete for a spot on this summer’s Olympic team that will compete in Rio de Janeiro from August 5-21. Finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team include: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird(Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (New York Liberty), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Skylar Diggins (Dallas Wings), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Briann January (Indiana Fever), Jantel Lavender (Los Angeles Sparks), Kayla McBride (San Antonio Stars),Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Chiney Ogwumike (Connecticut Sun), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Danielle Robinson (San Antonio Stars), Odyssey Sims (Dallas Wings), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky), Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx), and Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm).

This pool is a mix of veterans, youth and USA basketball experienced players. There are several players on the finalist list that have already secured gold in past Olympic games. Leading the pack with three gold medals a piece are Bird, Catchings and Taurasi. Augustus, Fowles and Parker have all earned two gold medals, while Charles, McCoughtry, Moore and Whalen have won one. This pool of players is so deep that the U.S. could very well field two teams in Rio. The final roster will include 12 players and will be selected by he USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee. Those include, Reneé Brown, WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations; Dan Hughes, head coach and general manager of the San Antonio Stars; and Chris Sienko, vice president and general manager of the Connecticut Sun; and three-time Olympic and two-time FIBA World Championship gold medalist Katie Smith, serves as the athlete representative.

I’m wondering what new faces may possibly earn a spot on this year’s team. There is some high quality young talent in the pool of 25 who i’m sure are eager to show their talent and compete for one of the 12 spots on the team. The USA Basketball Women’s National Team has won five-straight Olympic gold medals and I don’t see that changing for quite some time. Spain, Australia, Russia and France usually field very competitive squads in the Olympic games and may put up a challenge if they come up against the U.S. Do you see any country giving the U.S. a real challenge? I’m confident in my prediction of the U.S. bringing home Olympic gold medal number 6.