MINNESOTA (USA) - Reigning FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup champions USA will have Cheryl Reeve at the helm for the defense of their coveted title next year in Sydney after being named as new head coach.

The current Minnesota Lynx playcaller and general manager moves into the role having been an assistant coach at the last two editions of the event when her nation took gold - as well as fulfilling the same role at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. 

The primary goal will be for USA to add to their sparkling honors list with another FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup title when they land on Australian soil next year, with Reeve also tasked with coaching the team at the Paris 2024 Olympics, should they successfully qualify.

"I am incredibly humbled and excited to be named head coach of the USA Basketball Women's National Team, one of the greatest dynasties in sports," said Reeve.

"I have enjoyed an incredible journey with USA Basketball since joining in 2014 and look forward to what lies ahead as we seek more gold for the USA. I am indebted to the USA Basketball Board of Directors, Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma, and of course, my Lynx family who have positioned me for this prestigious opportunity.

She continued: "What I have witnessed is that a coach has to come in and be themselves. You have a much shorter window to do things, but I have seen what works and what doesn't work. I don't have any grand or different ideas. I just really want to be in there and be myself - also having players who are selfless and play really hard and can do it in a way that we can all be proud of.

"I feel so excited to get started. I can't wait. We have a tremendous amount of talent in the WNBA and college ranks if you're watching. There will be some new faces and I am still working on Sue (Bird) to see if one of our older faces can return - although I have not had much luck so far - but we still have time."

Meanwhile, the three-time WNBA Coach of the Year and six-time WNBA champion also paid tribute to her predecessor Dawn Staley and confirmed she had spoken in depth with her fellow coach.

She stated: "Dawn is a tremendous mentor to so many people and it's been strange for me because I actually coached Dawn, then I worked for her as an assistant. She has put me in this position to take the reins and she will be a tremendous resource and she let me know that.

"Of course, we were also assistant coaches together and she told me how it will just be like doing a little more when I take the seat."

Reeve will lead the USA at the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Washington, D.C. in February when they will face Belgium, Puerto Rico and Russia.  The USA Basketball assistant coaches and athletes who will compete in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournaments will be announced at a later date.

FIBA