MIAMI (USA) -  USA basketball’s second minicamp of 2021 took place in San Antonio, Texas, the same city as the 2021 NCAA Women’ Final Four. Sixteen national pool players were invited to the camp in hopes of making the final roster for the Tokyo Olympic games.

Many members who participated in the four-day camp in January were also in attendance in San Antonio, along with veteran players such as Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi who sat out of the first camp due to personal reasons related to their health during the pandemic.

"Even though the games have been postponed a year I don't feel like it changed who we are, what our mindset is, what we're trying to accomplish, it just got put on the pause button," said Sue Bird, four-time Olympic gold medalist and four-time WNBA champion.

"As far as the USA team goes with chemistry, we're used to this – we're used to only getting together every so often and trying to make the most out of a 3-4 day training camp."

Staley,  USA's head coach during the team’s 2019 AmeriCup run where USA went 6-0 and took home gold, will be leading the 2021 Tokyo Olympic team. Staley was unable to attend the camp in San Antonio as her NCAA team, the University of South Carolina, made the Final Four of the women’s tournament.

"She's a great coach, great mentor, to be able to be coached by her during that period of time I learned a lot from her – how to be poised, how to be a point guard and be a leader, certain situations that I try to take into this camp," said Jordin Canada. Canada was named to the All-Star Five of the AmeriCup tournament, and was subsequently added to the national team pool following the tournament after the team’s gold medal performance.

A legacy like no other, USA are going for their 7th consecutive gold medal at the Olympic games, as well as players like Allisha Gray who are attending the minicamp part of the first ever Olympic 3x3 team that also strive for gold.

Though the national team roster has not been picked, and veteran players like Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike are still looking to make the national team for the first time in their playing careers, the pool of talent team USA has to work with is filled with some of the most talented players in women’s basketball.

Despite many bumps in the road getting to Tokyo, the national team athletes are confident in upholding the gold standard of USA Basketball, the most successful team in Olympic history.

"This is something that I’ve dreamed of. I'm just excited to be in the pool and one of the numbers that can compete at this high level. To even be welcomed in this is not easy," said A'ja Wilson, member of the Las Vegas Aces and 2020 WNBA regular season MVP.

"I’m grateful to have these vets that yes, we compete at a very high level and work hard all the time, but they also teach me along the way and take me under their wing to show me different things."

FIBA