Mitchell, Wilson Finalists for USA Basketball World Cup Team

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The two Gamecocks who captured the last five SEC Player of the Year awards – Tiffany Mitchell and A’ja Wilson – are among 16 finalists for the 2018 USA Basketball Women’s World Cup Team, the organization announced today. The 16 finalists will travel to Antibes, France for a four-team international tournament Sept. 15-17 against Canada, France and Senegal. From this list, the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee will select the final 12-player roster for the 2018 FIBA World Cup.
 
“We had a great group of pool players that gave themselves a chance to be a part of the 16, but unfortunately, the committee has to get that number down,” USA and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. “The committee has to form a team that can compete at the highest level, and the unit that they selected should help us accomplish that. I’m just looking forward to leaving the country and playing some different competition, and continuing to create a bond and build the chemistry that is needed to win the World Cup.”
 
Mitchell and Wilson are among nine players hoping to earn a spot on their first USA World Cup Team, although both have international medals as part of USA Basketball. Mitchell earned a silver medal at the 2015 Pan American Games and gold at the 2014 FIBA 3×3 World Championships. Wilson as three international gold medals (2013 and 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship, 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship), a pair of tournament MVP awards (2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship) and was the 2015 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year.
 
Headlined by four-time Olympic gold medalists Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi and two-time Olympic and two-time World Cup gold medalist Tina Charles, the list of finalists includes 2016 Olympic gold medalists Elena Della Donne, Brittany Griner and Breanna Stewart as well as 2014 World Cup gold medalist Nneka Ogwumike. Della Donne, Loyd and Stewart are all currently still competing in the WNBA Finals and are anticipated to join team at a later date.
 
Joining Mitchell and Wilson among the nine players hoping for their first USA World Cup selection are Layshia Clarendon, Napheesa Collier, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Mitchell, Kelsey Plum, Morgan Tuck and Elizabeth Williams.
 
Assisting Staley through the World Cup are Dan Hughes (Seattle Storm), whose Seattle Storm is still in the WNBA playoffs and will join the team upon the conclusion of the Storm’s season, Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) and Jennifer Rizzotti (George Washington).
 
As was the case over the past three quadrenniums, the 2018-20 USA National Team roster will be fluid. It is expected that the official, 12-member 2018 USA World Cup and 2020 U.S. Olympic teams, should the USA qualify to compete in Tokyo, will be comprised of players from the 2018-20 USA National Team.
 
USA Basketball Women’s National Team director Carol Callan chairs the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, which includes three-time Olympic and two-time World Cup gold medalist Katie Smith as the athlete representative; representing the WNBA is Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller and Los Angeles Sparks general manager Penny Toler; and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, who coached USA teams to gold medals at the past two Olympics and FIBA World Cups, serves as a special advisor.