ISTANBUL (FIBA World Championship for Women) - The USA face an imminent and unenviable task in their quest to retain the FIBA World Championship for Women title.

With an array of 'Who's who' of women's basketball in their ranks, nothing less than a finish on the top steop of the podium will be considered as worthy for the glittering array of stars. That their male counterparts cruised to the title at FIBA Basketball World Cup adds a new dimension to the pressure on Geno Auriemma.

Having said that, if there is any team that can cope with, and come out of, that kind of pressure in contemporary women's basketball it is only this ensemble of superstars.

If Sue Bird's presence in the roster brings a touch of vintage class, the presence of Tina Charles, Maya Moore, Nnemkadi Ogwumike and Brittney Griner - the No 1 picks of the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 WNBA Drafts respectively - adds a tone of ominous proportions. Add to that mix names like Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree, the list of proficiency keeps growing.

Odyssey Sims, one of the newcomers to the USA roster, summed it best.

"I'm just excited just be here with all of the veterans and soon-to-be legends - some of the greatest players to play the game. It's just an honor. I'm blessed to be here, and I'm just going to make the most out of the opportunity while I'm here," the Tulsa Shock playmaker said on arrival in Istanbul.

China, Angola and Serbia therefore can be forgiven if they are overawed by this opposition.

Again, it's not that any of these three are pushovers. But the reality of the competition that faces them is that, in order to take on the 'best in the world' that the USA are presenting, the three teams have to perform better than their best ever.

Serbia will rely on the Dabovic sister act from Milica and Ana along with Jelena Milovanovic to deliver them the goods.

Marina Maljkovic's decision to add three new comers in Tijana Ajdukovic, Marina Markovic and Sanja Mandic adds credibility to the Serbian campaign.

The pressure is on Serbia too after their men's team went all the way to the Finals at Spain 2014.

China, the traditional powerhouse from Asia, are coming into the FIBA World Championship for Women without having won a continental crown the year before for the first time in recent memory. That in itself tells the tale of the transition Tom Maher is putting the team program through.

Eyebrows were raised when Zhao Shuang was left off the roster, but in Maher China have a coach who can walk the talk. Players like Lu Wen, Gao Song along with the prodigious duo in Li Meng and Yang Liwei are all resourceful enough to stand by their coach's side on that walk.

Angola coach Anibal Moreira has made it crystal clear on his team's mission in Turkey: to bridge the gap of competitiveness.

Players like Rosa Gala and Artemis Afonso will be counted upon to step up and deliver if Angola aim to end their winless run at the global level.

FIBA