Four is the magic number for Bird and USA

PRAGUE (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Sue Bird will become the first USA basketball player to step out at four FIBA World Championship for Women events after she was named on the final roster of the holders along with four exciting debutantes.

The playmaker who won world titles in 2002 and 2010, is joined on the list by a quartet of newcomers in Brittney Griner, Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Odyssey Sims and Breanna Stewart who will all play at a major tournament with the senior team for the very first time.

However there was a very different emotion for Jantel Lavender, who will now miss out after she became the final player to be cut from the list.

"When you get down to the final 12-member team, you appreciate everything that all of the pool players have contributed to where we are today," said Carol Callan, Chair of the Selection Committee.

"They all have worked hard and pushed the team during training camp to be at their very best.

"So, for that we are grateful, and we know that we have a great future as well.

"It is now exciting to have the team selected, and the committee feels that this team will compete to the standard set by previous teams."

With Candace Parker, Tamika Catchings and Sylvia Fowles all ruled out, there was space for a page to be turned and it most certainly was - particularly in respect of Stewart, a player who was competing at the FIBA U19 Championship for Women in Lithuania last year.

Meanwhile, head coach Geno Auriemma praised Bird for her record-breaking longevity as well as for being a role model for rising stars, having performed consistently at the highest level.

"I think it's a testament to Sue," he said. "That's a period of 12 years. She played right after graduating college. It is amazing that her level of play has been that consistent for that many years at a position that is not easy to play. That's kind of who she is.

"She is very steady, very even keeled, unbelievable talented and wins.

"The players trust her, and they have confidence in her. And the coaches I think feel the same way.

"She's like having a coach on the floor. We throw it out there like, 'Wow, you're a four-time USA World Championship Team member.'

"If it were that easy, it would have been done lots of times before this.

"She's accomplished something that's very rare, and she should be very proud of herself."

The final line-up was revealed after the USA bounced back from a preparation loss to France by easing past the Czech Republic 76-41, in their final exhibition game ahead of travelling to Istanbul to play Angola, China and Serbia in Group D.

USA squad for FIBA World Championship for Women: Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Candice Dupree, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Lindsay Whalen, Seimone Augustus, Brittney Griner, Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Odyssey Sims and Breanna Stewart.

FIBA