Colorado Springs: USA Basketball named a squad of 27 Women’s NBA stars for their camp that will eventually produce the American squad that will defend the crown in the upcoming World Championships in Turkey.
Three-time Olympic gold medal winners Sue Bird Tamika Catchings and Diani Taurasi and two-time Olympic champions Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker are among the invitees.
So were four other members of the 2012 Olympics championship squad — Lindsay Whalen, Tina Charles, Maya Moore and Angel McCoughtry.
In addition to titles from the past three Olympic tournaments, Bird and Catchings led the US women to world titles in 2002 and 2010, when the Americans made an unbeaten title run.
In all, US women have won the past five Olympic crowns and four of the past five world titles, losing only when Australia took the 2006 crown.
A final roster of 12 players will be selected to play in the World Championships, which run from September 27 to October 5 in Ankara and Istanbul.
“It’s some of the best players in the world,” US coach Geno Auriemma said. “I think we’re going to be able to pick a 12-player roster that’s going to be as good as any team we’ve ever had.”
