ANNAPOLIS (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Two leading lights for the defending FIBA World Championship for Women holders USA have withdrawn after it was revealed both Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker will not be boarding the plane for Turkey.

A three-time Olympic champion and searching for her third FIBA World Championship for Women gold medal, Catchings has been battling persistent neck pain and problems in recent times.

This injury requires both rest and therapy in order for her to recover and the Indiana Fever star will therefore not attend training camp, nor be considered for selection in Istanbul.

Parker is also carrying an injury and has had to schedule a minor knee surgery and she will miss out too, having also not appeared four years ago in Czech Republic, which leaves Brazil 2006 as her sole outing at the tournament.

Meanwhile, Monica Wright of the Minnesota Lynx has also withdrawn due to a forthcoming knee surgery.

Seventeen members of the preliminary list are currently tipping-off the first training camp at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, with those participating in the current WNBA Finals scheduled to link up with the party when the title chase is concluded.

The absence of Parker and Catchings could also potentially open the door a little wider for the inclusion of some new faces, with the likes of Breanna Stewart, Chiney Ogwumike and Elena Delle Donne all having made strong bids for some senior team action.

The USA side will follow its training in Annapolis with a pair of exhibition contests, the first being an inter-squad game later this week and the second against Canada on 15 September at Webster Bank Arena.

FIBA