Seven World Championship vets highlight 2007 U.S. FIBA team
Seven members of last year's team which played in the World Championship will be part of the U.S. squad at this year's FIBA Americas Championship, beginning Sept. 26.
The winner of the tournament will receive one of the 12 berths to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Candace Parker, Katie Smith, Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson, all of whom were on the '06 team, are back for the FIBA tournament in Chile. They are joined by Rebekkah Brunson, Swin Cash, Kara Lawson, Courtney Paris and Cappie Pondexter.
"We feel that we have a veteran core group of players who understand how to win the big games, and we're confident that we've selected a team that has the experience, confidence, skills and will to win," said selection committee chair Reneé Brown, who's also the WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations.
Candice Wiggins was named as an alternate and will travel to Chile to train.
The U.S. opens against Cuba on Sept. 26, followed by Jamaica on Sept. 27 and closes preliminary round play against Canada on Sept. 28. The top two teams in preliminary Group A, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico, and Group B advance to the Sept. 29 medal semifinals. The gold medal game is Sept. 30.
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