Reigning champions USA reveal roster for title defense
COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2017) - The 12 players who will be tasked with landing USA a sensational seventh straight title at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2017 have been chosen.
After intensive trials at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, a wider squad of 32 players has been whittled down by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee. There are seven gold medal winners in the final line-up - although interestingly, there are only five survivors from the team that punched a ticket last year for Udine and Cividale del Friuli.
USA roster for FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2017 | |||
Bella Alarie | Jeannie Boehm | Chennedy Carter | Crystal Dangerfield |
Tyasha Harris | Ruthy Hebard | Joyner Holmes | Kayla Overbeck |
Reili Richardson | Alecia Sutton | Megan Walker | Christyn Williams |
Jeannie Boehm, Chennedy Carter, Tyasha Harris, Ruthy Hebard and Megan Walker are all back after delivering gold at the FIBA Americas U18 Women's Championship 2016.
Crystal Dangerfield is the only player to have previously stepped out at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup after topping the podium two years ago in Russia. The guard also has the distinction of becoming only the fifth athlete to have been named on two USA rosters for the competition.
"I'm really excited about the personnel that we have on this team as the journey begins to prepare to try and win a gold medal,” said head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. "Watching these players through the trials, there were so many great players here, and this is a special team.
"The committee put together a team we feel very confident in, in their skill-set, in the energy that they will bring in representing the United States and the pride they will have in doing so. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with these players," added the play-caller.
The team will return to Colorado Springs on July 7 to begin a training camp, before departing for Italy on July 15. They will then compete in a four-team exhibition tournament against hosts Italy, Latvia and Spain on July 17-19, before the main action gets underway against Mali, China and Italy.
FIBA