MIAMI (USA) - USA Basketball started their FIBA Women’s AmeriCup title defense preparation with 20 invitees to the AmeriCup trials at the University of South Carolina from April 18 to 21, 2021 on their way to the 2021 Women’s AmeriCup in San Juan, Puerto Rico from June 11-19.

Of the invitees, 10 players have had previous experience playing for USA Basketball with Aliyah Boston, Naz Hillmon, Rhyne Howard, Ashley Joens, Diamond Miller and Hailey Van Lith securing gold at the FIBA U19 World Cup, and Sedona Prince and NaLyssa Smith joined Hillmon, Howard, Joens, taking home gold at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Zia Cooke also had previous gold medal experience, joining Boston, Jones and Van Lith at the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup. Van Lith also led the USA to gold at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup, where she was awarded tournament MVP honors.

"It’s just great to be here and compete for a chance to represent the USA, we have fun and bond with other people who aren’t our regular teammates, it’s great to be out here still playing basketball now that the season is over," said Howard.

"We go by the gold standard, if we don’t get the gold, or if I don’t get it, I’m kind of letting USA down because that’s what we come here for and nothing less is expected."

The USA Women's team has recently participated in AmeriCup's 2019 and 2007 tournaments where they took home gold in both competitions. Players like Diamond DeShields and Jordin Canada were named to the senior national team pool after their performances at the hhj2019 AmeriCup.

After the performances put on at the 2021 NCAA Women’s Basketball tournament, the USA Basketball committee also named players Khayla Pointer, Grace Berger, Veronica Burton, Elizabeth Kitley and Rae Burrell as invitees who are making their debut with USA Basketball at the trials.

"I’ve never been invited to anything USA Basketball before even in high school or anything, so I think it’s a credit to my coaches and teammates at Indiana University for helping me get to this point and I’m just excited for the opportunity," said Berger.

Another new addition to the AmeriCup team this year is assistant coach Adia Barnes, who made history not only with Team USA head coach Dawn Staley as the first time two black women have coached in the Final Four simultaneously, but also taking her Arizona Wildcats to the first Final Four and national championship game in program history.

"Anytime you can represent your country, it’s the ultimate honor and privilege because that’s the best players in the world – USA is always known as the most dominant country, to represent that is just extremely meaningful," said Barnes.

Destanni Henderson, Boston and Cooke play for Staley currently at South Carolina, and though none of Barnes’ Wildcats were named to the trials, the coaching pair are excited to be able to potentially repeat their AmeriCup title with some of the best players in the country.

"I am so glad to be on the other side, I’m tired of playing against them! I told Grace, Haley and Sedona, when you play against such great players, you have to game plan for them, so to be able to coach them, you see them in a different role and it’s just exciting for me," Barnes said.

The FIBA Women’s AmeriCup 2021 will feature teams from ten nations spanning from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, with the top four finishers advancing to compete in one of four 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournaments to hopefully earn one of 12 spots in the 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup.

FIBA