The WNBA season wrapped up and the brand new school season is but to start, however ladies’s basketball rolls on with the FIBA World Cup. The U.S. roster grew to become official this week.
We broke down the faculty careers of every of the 12 gamers competing for the USA’s eleventh total and fourth consecutive title.
1. A’ja Wilson, South Carolina (2014-18)
Earlier than she was a WNBA champion and two-time MVP, A’ja Wilson lit up boxscores at South Carolina.
Wilson leads this system all-time in factors, blocked pictures and made free throws. She additionally led this system to its first-ever NCAA nationwide championship in 2017.
Wilson earned Naismith and Related Press participant of the yr honors amongst many different awards.
2. Breanna Stewart, UConn (2012-16)
Breanna Stewart most not too long ago received her second Olympic gold medal with Crew USA alongside Wilson.
Stewart earlier led a UConn squad that received 4 consecutive nationwide championships with a 151-5 report in that span.
Throughout that run, Stewart earned three Naismith and AP participant of the yr awards, the one participant in NCAA historical past to realize that. She graduated because the all-time Huskies chief in blocks and second in scoring.
🏅 2020 OLYMPICS: The faculty careers, stats and awards of the Tokyo Olympic roster
3. Jewell Loyd, Notre Dame (2012-15)
Standout Irish guard Jewell Loyd additionally joins the roster as an Olympic gold medalist. At Notre Dame, Loyd scored at a excessive quantity and can present the USA with constant perimeter capturing.
In simply three seasons in South Bend, Loyd ranked fifth all-time in scoring and first in 30-point performances with seven.
She led the Irish to 3 straight Remaining Fours and back-to-back nationwide title video games, however bumped into UConn’s juggernaut four-peat squad.
4. Sabrina Ionescu, Oregon (2016-20)
With WNBA legends like Sue Chook retiring from play, new expertise will take the torch — particularly Sabrina Ionescu.
Ionescu formed Geese historical past but additionally shattered NCAA data. She grew to become the primary ladies’s or males’s participant to submit 2,000 factors, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists. Ionescu additionally broke the NCAA all-time triple-double report with 26, greater than doubling the earlier report.
In her third NCAA event, Ionescu and the Geese danced all the way in which to the nationwide semifinals in 2019, falling brief to Baylor. Earlier than COVID-19 canceled her last event, Ionescu assist stomp on Stanford within the Pac-12 championship.
5. Shakira Austin, Maryland/Ole Miss (2018-22)
After her rookie marketing campaign with the Washington Mystics, Shakira Austin will compete in her first FIBA occasion.
Austin cut up her collegiate profession between Maryland and Ole Miss. Whereas at Maryland for simply two seasons, Austin holds the single-season Terps’ block report. After transferring to Ole Miss she eased into a brand new position, excelled offensively and was named All-SEC first staff two years operating.
HISTORY: The 8 gamers who went No. 1 within the WNBA draft proper after reaching the NCAA title sport
6. Ariel Atkins, Texas (2014-18)
No stranger to USA Basketball after profitable gold in Tokyo, Ariel Atkins will compete in her second FIBA occasion, the primary on the U18 stage in 2014 earlier than starting her freshman yr at Texas.
Atkins at Texas contributed to a proficient Longhorns staff that held a 77 % profitable share with a report of 108-32. In her 4 years, she assist lead Texas deep into the NCAA event making the Candy 16 3 times and the Elite Eight as soon as.
7. Chelsea Grey, Duke (2010-14)
Sizzling off profitable WNBA Finals MVP and a second championship, Chelsea Grey units her sights on a second gold medal after the 2020 Olympics.
At Duke, Grey broke assists data, together with for single-season with 201 and a college report 5.0 per sport. Total, she is fifth all-time at Duke in assists. She additionally grow to be the primary in program historical past to submit a number of triple-doubles.
Grey’s spectacular court docket imaginative and prescient and management was a catalyst to a 120-19 report at Duke.
8. Alyssa Thomas, Maryland (2010-14)
Alyssa Thomas is one among three former Maryland gamers on the USA staff. She is coming off a WNBA Finals run with the Connecticut Solar, and can play alongside Aces gamers that got here out on prime.
Thomas returns to Crew USA after competing in preliminary occasions earlier in her profession together with 2013 USA Nationwide Crew minicamp as one among six student-athletes.
As a Terp, Thomas earned ACC Participant of the Yr for 3 consecutive years and Related Press All-America first staff in 2012 and 2014.
📺 WATCH: NCAA event highlights from WNBA Finals MVP Chelsea Grey
9. Betnijah Laney, Rutgers (2011-15)
After getting drafted in 2017, Betnijah Laney bounced round a couple of groups earlier than discovering house with the New York Liberty. Now, she’s a WNBA All-Star and with the USA after 4 stable years at Rutgers.
At Rutgers, Laney averaged 15.8 factors and 10.7 rebounds in her senior season — excessive above her collegiate profession numbers of 10.9 and seven.1.
10. Brionna Jones, Maryland (2013-17)
After profitable gold within the FIBA AmeriCup final yr, former Maryland star Brionna Jones will compete for the World Cup.
Whereas at Maryland, she led the nation in discipline purpose share for 2 years straight, 66.5 % as a junior and 69 % as senior. Jones contributed to a Terps squad that went to back-to-back NCAA nationwide semifinals.
11. Kelsey Plum, Washington (2016-17)
The third Las Vegas Aces freshly topped champion to hitch the roster is Washington legend Kelsey Plum.
Plum famously broke the all-time DI NCAA scoring report with 3,527 factors in addition to the all-time season report 1,109 in her senior season. As a junior, she led the Huskies to their first Remaining 4 in program historical past.
Plum not too long ago received gold competing in 3×3 within the 2020 Olympics.
12. Kahleah Copper, Rutgers (2013-16)
Kahleah Copper is one other Rutgers standout on the World Cup roster. Copper will compete in her first USA Basketball competitors.
Copper averaged 14.1 factors and 5.8 rebounds as a Scarlet Knight. Copper can catch fireplace offensively, like when she scored her career-high 31 in her last season. She additionally brings a fiery depth that the USA misses with out gamers like Diana Taurasi.
| PLAYER | POINTS | REBOUNDS | NCAA TOURNAMENT RECORD | NCAA TITLES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ariel Atkins | 1,497 | 524 | 9-4 | 0 |
| Shakira Austin | 1,657 | 1,076 | 1-2 | 0 |
| Kahleah Copper | 1,414 | 552 | 1-1 | 0 |
| Chelsea Grey | 1,155 | 448 | 10-3 | 0 |
| Sabrina Ionescu | 2,562 | 1,041 | 11-3 | 0 |
| Brionna Jones | 1,928 | 1,209 | 9-4 | 0 |
| Betnijah Laney | 1,056 | 681 | 1-3 | 0 |
| Jewell Loyd | 1,885 | 620 | 14-3 | 0 |
| Kelsey Plum | 3,527 | 596 | 6-3 | 0 |
| Breanna Stewart | 2,664 | 1,166 | 24-0 | 4 |
| Alyssa Thomas | 2,064 | 1,085 | 10-4 | 0 |
| Aj’a Wilson | 2,389 | 2,389 | 15-3 | 1 |
