The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Duo to train with U.S. Women’s National Team
UConn’s Olivia NelsonOdoda and Christyn Williams were chosen to train this week with the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, it was announced Sunday. The camp will run from Tuesday through Thursday in Miami in advance of the FIBA AmeriCup.
Six former Huskies are expected to join them either at the start of camp or following the WNBA season, including Sue Bird, Tina Charles, Napheesa Collier, Stefanie Dolson, Katie Lou Samuelson and Diana Taurasi.
Coached by South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, the team will train at the University of Miami before traveling to Puerto Rico for the AmeriCup, which is scheduled
for Sept. 2229. The roster will be trimmed to 12 prior to the tournament.
Other players invited include Maryland’s Kaila Charles, Miami’s Mykea Gray, Oregon’s Ruthy Hebard, UCLA’s Michaela Onyenwere and Khadijah Sessions of Finland, as well as numerous WNBA stars: Jordin Canada, Diamond DeShields, Skylar DigginsSmith, Sylvia Fowles, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd, Arike Ogunbowale, Nneka Ogwumike, Kelsey Plum, Brittney Sykes, Sydney Wiese, Elizabeth Williams and A’ja Wilson.
Bird, who had knee surgery, and DigginsSmith, who had a baby in April, are not cleared to play.
The U.S. tips off preliminary play Sept. 22 against Paraguay, then will face Columbia, Argentina and Brazil from Sept. 2426. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on Sept. 28, with the gold and bronze medal games scheduled for the following day.
The top eight teams will advance to the FIBA Americas PreOlympic Qualifying Tournament from Nov. 1018.