COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA U17 World Championship for Women) - Making the final roster of any USA national team is an intense and fiercely competitive process, but for Katie Lou Samuelson there was an added complication as she tried nailing down a spot for the FIBA U17 World Championship for Women.

Speaking as the two-time reigning champions assemble ahead of defending their title in the Czech Republic in less than a fortnight, the guard is simply relieved to have been able to participate in preparations at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The night before her place in the final 12 was confirmed at the end of last month, she received the news with a mix a joy and uncertainty.

"After I sprained my ankle, I pretty much spent much of my time rehabbing and getting better just so that I could play - I didn't know if I was going to be able to," revealed Samuelson.

"I got an MRI and everything is good now, so in those two weeks I was rehabbing as much as I could."

As well as having a broad smile across her face for having shrugged off her ankle injury, Samuelson also had another reason to celebrate as the team gathered around her after a recent practice session.

"This is the second year in a row that I'm here for my birthday, so I guess it's just a tradition now," she explained.

"It's definitely awesome as we've gotten so close in such a short amount of time that it's great how comfortable you can feel around them on your birthday, so that's really cool.

"It's so much fun," she added.

"All of these girls are great, and it's always good to gel and get to know everybody."

Samuelson already knows what a podium-topping finish feels like, having collected gold at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship in Jakarta last year and also via her triumph at the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Mexico.

With six fresh-faced team-mates around her as she looks to add to her golden collection, Samuelson is trying to help her new colleagues settle in the very best she can - as well as being thrilled at being worked hard by head coach Sue Phillips.

She claimed: "I know how hard it is to be on a new team, I went through it last year.

"I know these girls coming in, they're probably a bit nervous because there's six girls that already know each other and know how to play with each other.

"I will definitely try to be a leader on this team.

"Coach Phillips is definitely tough on us, but it's good; it's great," she continued.

"We know we need it. This year it's more intense because it's going to be harder. The competition will be harder.

"I've also never been to Europe, so I am so excited about that. It's just awesome that I get to travel to all of these places at such a young age.

"But I think I am most excited to go play and win a gold medal."

Once finished with their Colorado Springs training programme, the USA team will depart for France and play three exhibition games before landing in the Czech Republic, where they will go up against China, France and Mali in Group D.

FIBA