The USA women's national under-19 basketball team is the women's basketball team, administered by USA Basketball, that represents the United States in international under-19 and under-18 (under age 19 and under age 18) women's basketball competitions, consisting mainly of the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship for Women and FIBA Under-19 World Championship for Women. The events were originally referred to as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament[1] and the FIBA Junior World Championship.[2]
The usual sequence is for the U18 team to play in a regional championship in one year, with the top four qualifying teams being invited to the FIBA Under-19 World Championship in the following year, as the U19 team.[1] The first Junior World Championship was held in 1985, without a qualifying tournament in the prior year. Starting in 1988, the events were on a four-year cycle, with the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament in 1988, followed by the FIBA Junior World Championship in 1989. This continued until the format was changed in 2006. Now, the U18 team plays in the U18 Americas event every other year, and the U19 World event in subsequent years.[1]
The U18 team becomes the U19 team, with largely the same players and coaches, although changes can occur. For example, while Debbie Ryan served as head coach for the 1988 U18 team, and again as head coach for the 1989 U19 team, the head coach for the 1992 U18 team was Nancy Wilson, but changed to Jim Foster for the 1993 U19 team. There are also changes in the playing roster, although many of the players on the U18 team go on to play on the U19 team.
Jim Foster served as the head coach, with Rene Portland serving as an assistant coach at the FIBA Junior World Championship. The event was held in Seoul, South Korea August 1–8, 1993. The USA improved their record from the 1985 and 1989 events to 5–2, but that finish placed the team seventh overall.[49]
1997
In 1997, Portland became the head coach, with Marianna Freeman and Jim Lewis assistant coaches of the USA team competing in the Junior World Championship (now the U19 World Championship). That event was held in Natal, Brazil July 5–13, 1997. After beating Japan in the opening game, the USA played defending champion Australia in the second round. Despite having a 13-point lead at one time, the USA let the lead slip away and lost 80–74. However, the USA team then went on to win a four-point game against Cuba, and won easily against Russia and Spain to move to the medal rounds. In the semi-final the USA team faced Slovakia, and won 90–77 to move the team into their first ever finals for a FIBA Junior World team. The final was against Australia who had beaten the US in the second game. The USA team had a three-point lead with three seconds to go, but Australia hit a three-pointer to send the game to overtime. Australia scored first, the USA out scored the Australians 7–2 to take a small lead. The lead was down to two points with 30 seconds left in the game, but the USA hit free throws to win 78–74, notching the first ever gold medal for a Junior World Championship team from the USA.[50]
2001
Geno Auriemma was named as head coach, with Sherri Coale and Willette White assistant coaches of the USA team which would compete at the Junior World Championship in Brno, Czech Republic during July 2001. The team won their first five games, including a record setting win against Mali. The 97–27 final score represented the largest margin of victory by a USA team in Junior World Championship history. The preliminary round results qualified the team for the medal rounds, where they faced the host team, the Czech Republic. With a home crowd cheering them on, the Czech team held a nine-point lead with just over six minutes to go. The USA team cut the lead down to three points with seconds to go, and good defense gave the ball back to the USA. However, the USA was called for an offensive foul, and lost possession. The Czech Republic team won 92–88, and went on to beat Russia 82–80 to win the gold medal. The USA team beat Australia 77–72 to win the bronze medal. Diana Taurasi was the leading scorer for the US with 19.3 points per game, while Alana Beard was close behind with 18.0 points per game. Nicole Powell was the leading rebounder for the US, with seven rebounds per game.[51]
2005
Gail Goestenkors served as the head coach of the team representing the US at the 2005 FIBA Americas U19 Championship for Women in Tunis, Tunisia. Carol Ross and Felisha Legette-Jack served as assistant coaches. The USA team won all eight of their games, including the championship game against Serbia & Montenegro. Crystal Langhorne hit 77.5% of her field goal attempts, to lead the USA scorers with over 16 points per game. Candice Wiggins was close behind with almost 16 points per game. The USA team was dominant, winning every game by more than 20 points.[52]
2006 U18
The 2006, U18 competition was held in Colorado Springs, Colorado in June. The head coach was Doug Bruno, who was assisted by Jennifer Rizzotti and Carol Owens. The team emphasize defense, holding their opponent's to an average of about 51 points a game. The team won all four games, earning the gold-medal and a qualification for the 2007 U19 world championship. In the game against Paraguay, Tina Charles hit eight of her 10 field-goal attempts to set a tournament record while Khadijah Rushdan's nine assists in the game against Brazil was also a tournament record.[53]
The USA team was dominant, winning all nine games at the event to earn the gold-medal. The margin of victory averaged almost 35 points, with only an eight-point victory in the first game against Spain in single digits. The USA reached the semi-finals unbeaten and faced Spain again, but this time led by 24 points from Maya Moore, the USA defeated Spain 69–46. The set up a match-up between the US and Sweden the only remaining undefeated teams. Five players for the USA scored double figures in the USA won the championship game 99–57.[54]
2008 U18
The U18 Americas Championship was held in July 2008. Players were eligible for the U18 and U19 teams in those years if they were born on January 1, 1990, or later.[55] The USA won the gold, winning all five games. The result qualified the U19 team for the World Championships in July/August 2009 in Thailand, where the USA lost their opening game against Spain, but went on to win every subsequent game, including the gold medal rematch against Spain.[56]
In preparation for the tournament, the USA team played an exhibition game against France, and played a scrimmage with Australia. In the exhibition game, the USA team defeated France 86–46.[57] In the opening game of the tournament, Spain defeated USA 90–86.[58] After playing evenly for the first eight minutes, Spain pulled out to a 17-point lead in the first half, which the USA could only cut to 14 at halftime. In the second half the USA team tied the game at 58 all, then pulled to a 66–61 lead, but Spain tied the game again at 66, as part of a 21–1 run to take a commanding lead. The USA would fight back, but could not close the gap, losing by 4.[56]
In the second game, USA defeated China 88–53, led by Nnemkadi Ogwumike with 18 points, and Kelsey Bone with 16.[59] Kelsey Bone and Nnemkadi Ogwumike combined to score the first ten USA points, to help the USA jump out to a 10–2 lead. The game was never close again, with the USA winning 88–53. Skylar Diggins would score 13 points to join Bone and Ogwumike as double digit scorers. The USA would out rebound China 54–26 and held the Chinese team to under 30% shooting from the field. USA plays Mali July 25, 2009.[60] In the following game, USA defeated Mali, 100–38, led by Kelly Faris with 13 points. Four other players had double digit scoring.[61] Every available player scored, and the USA team held Mali to just over 20% shooting from the field. The USA team will have a day off Sunday, after the completion of the preliminary round and will return to action in the next round July 27, 2009.[62]
After the day off, the USA defeated Canada 64–50.[63] USA used an 11–0 run to take a commanding lead. Prahalis and Bone tied for the scoring lead with 14 points apiece; Ogwumike added a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.[64] In the following game, the USA team faced the undefeated team from Russia. The USA team led by six at the end of the first quarter, but, in the third quarter, Russia came back to retake the lead at 45–44. However, USA held Russia to 26% shooting from the field, and outrebounded 50–34 to earn the win. Russia had only 4 assists on 20 baskets, compared to eleven assists on 29 baskets for the Americans. The USA team won 75–56.[65]
Then, the USA team defeated Japan 109–68, behind 15 points from Taber Spani, one of six players with double-digit scoring. The USA team shot 53% from beyond the three-point arc. Every player scored, every player played at least ten minutes and every player had at least one rebound. The USA used a 12–0 run early in the game to put themselves well ahead, and were never threatened again.[66]
The USA team had beaten France in an unofficial exhibition game by 40 points eleven days earlier, but this game proved to be much different. France had a lead in much of the first half, as much as eight points at one time. The USA pulled ahead to a 14-point lead early in the second half, but France would pull to within two points early in the final period. The USA team then went on a 15–3 run to put the game out of reach, and won 88–75. Skyler Diggins and Nnemkadi Ogwumike each scored 16 points for the USA team.[67] In the semi-final game, USA played Canada, after Canada beat Australia to reach the semi-final. The USA team held Canada to just over 30% shooting from the field, and won easily, 82–51. This win set up a replay with Spain, who beat the USA team in the opening match.[68]
In the final game, a rematch with Spain, the USA team won 87–71 to win the gold. The USA team hit its first twelve shots, and were 15 for 18 in the first quarter, to open up a commanding lead. The USA would hit less than a third (19 of 59) of their field goals in the remainder of the game, but the opening quarter lead would prove sufficient. The USA held Spain to under 34% shooting for the game. The loss would be the first of the event for Spain.[56]
2010 USA U18 results
The U18 competition was among teams in the Americas, and would determine which teams would be invited to the 2011 World Championships. Before the formal games started, the USA team played Canada in an exhibition game, winning 58–39. After starting out sluggishly, leading only 19–15 at the half, the team came together to outscore the Canadian team by 14 points in the second half. Chiney Ogwumike was the leading scorer with 155 points, and Bria Hartley had ten points, three assists and four steals.[69]
In the first official game, the USA was matched up against Argentina. The USA team turned the ball over on each of their first three possessions, but then settled down and beat Argentina convincingly, 91–32. All USA players scored, while Bria Hartley, Kayla McBride, Chiney Ogwumike and Stefanie Dolson were all double-digit scorers. Head Coach Jennifer Rizzotti was pleased with the overall effort, other than the first minute of play.[70][71] In the second game, the USA played the team from Brazil. Ogwumike again was the leading scorer with 15 points, all in the first half. Bria Hartley added 14 points, while Alexis Jones and Kayla McBride were also double-digit scorers. The USA team started out strong, with Hartley scoring eight points as part of a 13–2 run. The team was 15 of 17 from the free throw line, setting a USA FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women record.[72][73]
The next game was against Puerto Rico. The USA team was losing briefly, 3–2, before scoring 19 consecutive points to set the tone for the game. Diamond DeShields was the top scorer with 14 points, but seven other players were double-digit scorers. The team had 22 assists on their 35 baskets, as the team beat Puerto Rico 108–44.[74][75] This win propelled the USA team into the semi-final match up against Chile. "The Beast of Twain" Ogwumike would again lead all scorers with 17, while Theresa Plaisance had 11 and Kayla McBride had 10. Reshanda Gray was the leading rebounder with 8. The game wasn't close after the opening minutes, with the USA team winning 98–28.[76][77] This win set up the gold medal game, with a rematch against Brazil.
The USA team won the rematch with Brazil solidly, 81–38. Malina Howard, at sixteen years of age, was the second youngest on the team (only Diamond DeShields was younger), but led the entire tournament in field goal percentage, hitting 62.% of her attempts. Chiney Ogwumike led the USA team in scoring with 13.2 points per game, followed by Bria Hartley, with 10.6 per game. The head coach of the team was Jennifer Rizzotti of the University of Hartford.[46][78]
2011 USA U19 results
After winning the gold in 2010, the USA team was one of the teams selected to play in the 2011 World's Championships. Prior to the formal start of the tournament, the USA team played an exhibition game against Brazil on June 5, 2011, winning the game 49–37. The team was finalized following the game, with twelve players identified to compete in the World Championships in Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, Chile in July.[79] The USA selection committee chose the team members to represent the USA. The twelve players selected were:
Imani Stafford (Winward H.S. / Los Angeles, Calif.)
Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse H.S. / North Syracuse, N.Y.)
Morgan Tuck (Bolingbrook H.S. / Bolingbrook, Ill.)
Elizabeth Williams (Princess Anne H.S. / Virginia Beach, Va.)
The opening game for the USA team was against Japan, who started out with a very early lead, 5–2. The USA team played with what head coach Jennifer Rizzotti called. "a lot of intensity". USA's Bria Hartley tied the game with a three-pointer, and the USA team went on a 20–2 run to take a large lead 22–7. However, Japan came back, and cut the lead to 27–22 in the second quarter. The lead was up to 17 points at halftime, but Japan took advantage of a "defensive lapse" in the second half, and cut the lead to eight points. The margin was still within single digits in the fourth quarter, when the USA team concentrated on defense, and went on a 10–3 run, leading to a final score of 85–63.[80] Bria Hartley was the leading scorer with 18 points. Breanna Stewart had a double-double, with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Ariel Massengale was the assists leader, with five. The USA team shot 54% from the field, and held the Japanese team to a 28% shooting percentage.[81] In the next game against Russia, the USA team never trailed, playing with better defensive intensity, according to Coach Rizzotti. The scoring started slowly, with the score tied at six apiece more than six minutes into the game. The USA team then went on a 12–1 run, and never relinquished the lead, finishing with a 76–53 win. Diamond DeShields was the top scorer for the USA team, with 16 points.[82] The USA team held the Russian team to 26% shooting.[83]
The third game typically determines which teams make it to the medal round, but that wasn't the case in this game. The Argentine team had been mathematically eliminated, and the USA team was certain to move on, win or lose. However, both teams played to win, and Argentina took an early lead 7–3. However, a balanced offense proved too much for the Argentine team. With eleven of the twelve USA players scoring between five and twelve points, led by Breanna Stewart on 3–3 shooting from the field, the USA team had too much offense and defense. The USA team held the opposition to under 30% shooting for the third consecutive game, allowing the Argentine team only a 27% shooting percentage.[84] The USA team won the game 83–49, advancing them to the second round.[85]
The USA team faced its toughest test to date in their match-up against China. The USA squad began the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead, but the team from China went on to score 31 points in the period. They started the period with a 12–2 run, cutting the lead to two points. It remained close, and was a tie game at 72 points apiece with 1:26 left to play. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis hit a three-pointer, one of five she hit during the game. After a score by China, Bria Hartley hit the three to extend the lead to four points. China responded with a three-pointer, cutting the lead back to a single point. With a half a minute to go in the game, Hartley passed underneath to Stefanie Dolson, who scored the final points of the game. China tried to tie the score with a three-pointer, but aggressive defense by Elizabeth Williams forced China to take an off-balance shot. Hartley rebounded the miss, and the USA team finished with an 80–77 win.[86] Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis led all scorers with 19 points, followed closely by Bria Hartley with 18. Stefanie Dolson had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Elizabeth Williams had a game-high nine rebounds. China shot 50% from beyond the arc, hitting 11 of their 22 three-point attempts.[87]
Ariel Massengale and Breanna Stewart, two of the five member named to the five-member All-FIBA U19 World Championship Team
In the next game, against Italy, the USA team started off strong, opening up a 31–13 lead early. Coach Rizzotti was happy with the team's intensity, that led to a 90–64 win over Italy. Cierra Burdick shot 5–7 from the field and hit 8 of 9 free throws to lead the team in scoring with 17 points.[88] Her nine rebounds were a team high. The USA team shot well overall, hitting 55% of their shots. The USA team outrebounded their opponents 44–22.[89] This win set up a match-up between the USA team and Canada, each coming into the game with spotless (5–0) records. Canada jumped out to an early 6–0 lead. Although the USA team closed the gap to 8–6, Canada extended the lead to double digits. The USA team was plagued by poor shooting, hitting only a third of their shots in the game, and ending up only marginally better, at 36%. Canada started out shooting well, over 60% in the first quarter, but would end up with a lower shooting percentage than the US at 35%. However, turnovers would be a key measure, as the USA team turned the ball over 24 times, the most of any game they played so far, leading to more shooting opportunities for the team from Canada. Ariel Massengale was the only USA player to score in double digits with 17 points. In contrast, Canada had three double-digit scorers, led by 24 points for Michelle Plouffe. Canada won the game 64–52.[90] Both teams were still in medal contention.[91]
The following game was against the team from France. The USA team started out slowly, hitting only one of their first six shots at the basket. France pulled out to a 14–5 early lead, hitting two-thirds of their shot attempts in the first quarter, and extended the lead to a 13-point margin during the first half. The USA team came back, but was still down 30–25 at halftime. The USA team cut into the lead in the third quarter, but with one quarter to go, France led 49–47. Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, who would score nine of her thirteen points in the final quarter, helped the USA take the lead, and the USA team pulled out to an eleven-point lead with just over six minutes to play. However, France hit consecutive three-pointers as part of a 9–0 run to bring the margin down to two points. With just over a minute to play, the score was even at 64 points apiece. Bria Hartley passed to Breanna Stewart, who was fouled going for the basket. She sank both free throws. After a turnover by France, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis scored with 23 seconds to go to give the USA a four-point lead. France did not score again, and the USA won the game 70–64.[92][93]
The USA opponent in the semi-final game was Brazil. Each team had a single loss, with the USA losing to Canada, and Brazil losing to France. The teams traded leads early on, then Brazil moved out to a four-point margin 13–9. Bria Hartley hit back-to-back three-point attempts to put the USA back in a lead. Hartley ended up scoring 20 points in the first half, helping the team to a thirteen-point halftime lead. Brazil cut the lead to five points in the second half, but the USA built the lead back to double digits, was never seriously threatened again, and won the game 82–66. Hartley was the team's leading scorer with her 20 first-half points, while Ariel Massengale led the team with nine assists. Breanna Stewart and Cierra Burdick had nine rebounds apiece.[94][95]
The USA team faced Spain in the gold medal game. In the opening minutes, the lead changed several times, until the USA team went on a 14–3 run to open up a 25–12 lead just before the end of the first quarter. The USA team extended the lead to 15 points by halftime. The USA team did not have great shooting, with under 40% for the game, but defensively held Spain to under 30%. USA's Stefanie Dolson said "Last year was an experience of a lifetime because that was qualifying for here. Then winning the world championship gold medal is so surreal. Getting up there, getting the gold around your neck, it's a moment you'll never forget". Dolson was one of the three high-scorers for the game, with 15 points, sharing the honors with Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, and Elizabeth Williams. The all-tournament team included two members of the USA squad, Ariel Massengale and Breanna Stewart.[96][97]
2012 U18 results
The 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship was held in Gurabo, Puerto Rico August 15–19, 2012. The USA squad underwent training at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida between 28 May and June 1, then re-assembled at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado from the fourth through the twelfth of August. The training schedules overlapped with the U17 team locations and schedules, so they played a scrimmage against each other on May 31, 2012. The U17 team led the U18 team for most of the game, but Breanna Stewart took over in the fourth quarter, and the U18 team prevailed 73–66.[98] The team then traveled to Puerto Rico for the Americas Championship.[99]
Preliminary round
The twelve qualifying teams are separated into two groups, with four teams in each group.
Group A
Argentina
Columbia
Dominican Republic
USA
Group B
Brazil
Canada
Mexico
Puerto Rico
The first five rounds are played as a round-robin, in which each team plays all three of the other teams in their group. The preliminary rounds were scheduled for 15—17 August.
The first USA opponent was the Dominican Republic. Although the score was close in the first quarter, with only a two-point margin by the US at the end of the first quarter, the USA team overcame first-game jitters and scored 31 consecutive points in the second quarter to take an insurmountable lead. Every team player scored at least five points, with game high scoring honors going to Morgan Tuck. Michaela Mabrey set a U18 record for the US with ten assists. The final score was 99–26.[99][100][101]
The USA team faced Argentina in their second game. The USA team held Argentina to single digit scoring in each of the four-quarters, to keep the point total for their opponents to 28. Although the USA team shot only 37% for the game, they hit 44% of their three-point shots. Breanna Stewart, with 17 points, was one of three double digit scorers, along with Morgan Tuck and Michaela Mowbrey. Lexie Brown had six blocks. The final score in favor of the USA was 68–28.[102][103]
The USA team faced Columbia in the third and final match of the preliminary round. Michaela Mabrey hit five of six three-point attempts to tie a USA U18 record for three-point field goal percentage, set by Candice Wiggins in 2004. The team shooting was better in this game, with the team hitting 55% of their field goal attempts. The USA team won 87–36, to finish undefeated in preliminary play, and secure the top seed in the next round.[104][105]
Medal round
Morgan Tuck hoists the championship trophy at the award ceremonies in Gurabo, Puerto Rico
In their semi-final game, the USA team faced Canada. Although Canada managed an early 4–2 lead, the USA team quickly took over and led 24–8 at the end of the first quarter. Morgan Tuck hit nine of her 12 field goal attempts, leading to 22 points, while Breanna Stewart hit 8 of her 11 attempts, leading to 20 points. The USA won easily, 95–46, which puts the USA team in the gold medal game against undefeated Brazil.[106][107]
The USA team had played 16 quarters leading to the gold medal game, and had not been out scored in any of them. That would change in the championship game. The team from Brazil scored the first six points, and held a 186–7 lead at the end of the first quarter. Brazil would score the opening two-point of the second period, but the USA team regained its bearings and took over the game. The USA team outscored Brazil 22–8 in the second period and 21–7 in the third to take a commanding lead. Four USA players scored in double digits, led by Morgan Tuck with 15. The final score of the championship was 71–47.[47][108]
Breanna Stewart won the Tournament MVP award, while Morgan Tuck was the tournament's overall scoring leader at 17.8 points per game.[47] The USA coach Katie Meier had praise for Stewart, Bashaara Graves, and Tuck, "Those three were workhorses down there".[109]
2013 U19 results
The USA Basketball team invited 34 players to Colorado Springs for tryouts for the U19 team. Three coaches, Matt Corkery (American University), Bobbie Kelsey (Wisconsin) and Matilda Mossman (Tulsa) were chosen as court coaches to help the players on court at the tryouts and assist in the selection of the final team.[110] The coaches who will travel with the team also participate in the training process. The head coach is Katie Meier (Miami), who will be assisted by Nikki Caldwell (Louisiana State University) and Kelly Graves (Gonzaga University). As a result of the tryout, the USA organization selected twelve players at the U19 World Championship in Klaipėda and Panevėžys, Lithuania as well as the preliminary event the Lanzarote International Invitational Title, held in the Canary Islands. The twelve players to represent the USA are:[111]
The opening game of the preliminary event was against Australia. The Aussies held a four-point lead at halftime 33–29, and extended the lead to seven points 40–33 part way through the third period. Morgan Tuck, who has scored only two points in the first half scored 11 of the USA's first 13 points in the second half to help cut into the lead, but at the beginning of the fourth quarter, the USA was still four points behind the Aussies. After swapping baskets, the USA scored twice to tie the game. Tuck scored a basket to give the USA the lead at 56–55, as part of an 8–2 run by the USA team. They extended the lead to seven points, and held on for the close 71–66 win.[112]
In the second game, the USA team squared off against the host team, Spain. Unlike the previous game, the USA pulled out to an early lead and never relinquished it. Linnae Harper led all scorers with 15 points, en route to a 78–49 win by the USA.[113] In the final game of the preliminary event, held July 14, the USA team opened up an early lead and held on to win 69–49 to capture the Lanzarote International Invitational title.[114]
Lithuania preliminary rounds
The teams traveled from the Canary Islands to Lithuania for the remainder of the U19 championship. The USA team took on Lithuania in the first game of pool play in Group D. The other teams in Group D are China, with a 2–1 record in the preliminary round, and Mali who were 0–3 in the preliminary round. Lithuania was 1–2 in the preliminary round.
Four USA players scored in double digits in the game against Lithuania, including Nia Coffey with ten points, Bashaara Graves with 13 points and a tie for a team-high seven rebounds, Morgan Tuck with 18 points and a team high six assists. The leading scorer was Breanna Stewart, who played 20 minutes but scored 26 points. Stewart did not miss any of the six field goal attempts she took in the first quarter, and went on to score 19 points in the quarter. She ended 8 for 8 from the free throw line. The game was never close, with the USA up by 66 points at the end of the game, with a score of 112–47.[115]
The USA team then faced China. The lead changed several times in the opening quarter, and the quarter ended with a five-point lead by the USA. China hit a three-pointer to open the second quarter, but then the USA team went on a 12–0 run to open up a larger lead. The USA held a 44–27 lead at the half. In the second half the USA put together a string of 17 consecutive points to give the USA a commanding lead. Six USA players scored in double digits, with Breanna Stewart scoring 20. A'ja Wilson had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, earning praise from head coach Katie Meier, who said, "A double-double in your second international game. That's very poised, very composed." The USA won the game 103–56.[116] In the next game, the USA faced Mali. Although Mali held a very early 3–2 lead after the first minute, the game result was never in doubt, as the USA team scored 23 consecutive points and led 30–5 early. The team would go on win 103–26. The USA had advantages in experience as well as height, with a USA team averaging over six feet per player, while Mail averaged only five feet eight inches per player. Stewart again was the leading scorer with 17 points.[117]
The USA entered the second round of preliminary play with a game against the Netherlands. The USA opened with a three-pointer, and never lost the lead. The team had two runs, one 8–0 and one 16–0 to open up large leads. The USA won, 102–42. The leading scorer was the youngest member of the team, Wilson, who had 20 points along with eight rebounds. Tuck, Jones, Graves and Stewart also scored in double digits.[118]
The next game for the USA team was against Canada. The team from Canada scored first, and tied the game at three points apiece, but the USA opened up a lead they would never relinquish. In the second half, the USA opened up a 15-point lead, but Canada cut it back to ten, prompting a timeout. Shortly after, the USA team out together an 8–0 run to close the third quarter. The run continued in the fourth quarter when Stewart scored three consecutive goals, contributing to a run that extended to 19 points. Alexis Jones was the team's leading scorer, with 17 points.[119]
The USA faced one of the other two remaining unbeaten teams, France, in their next match. France held a 15–11 lead late in the first quarter, when the USA scored the next eight points to take the lead. The USA extended the lead several times, but France fought back and kept the game close. The USA held a six-point lead at halftime. The third quarter was close, with the USA managing to outscore France by only two points in the period. Late in the game, the USA was up by twelve points, but France went on a 12–2 run, including six straight points to bring the margin back to two points with under a minute to play. Then Alexis Jones, who had missed all four of her three-point attempts, took another one and hit to give the USA five-point lead. France tried to respond with a three-point attempt of their own, but Jones blocked it to seal the win, and preserve the undefeated status of the USA. The USA team won 69–63 to advance to the quarterfinals.[120]
Medal rounds
The USA played Japan in the quarterfinals. The USA had a height advantage, with USA's A'ja Wilson four inches taller than her counterpart. She took advantage of the mismatch, scoring a team high 19 points. The game was reasonable close in the opening minutes, with the USA leading 12–9, but the USA gradually extended the lead. At halftime, the score was 51–32. The USA used their height advantage on the boards, out-rebounding Japan 70–32, setting a new record for rebounds by a USA U19 team. The prior record of 68 was held by the 2007 squad. The final score was 108–67.[121]
The semi-final match was against Australia, a team they had played in the Canary Islands as part of the Lanzarote International Invitational Title. The USA had won the game, but it was close up until the end of the game. In the semi-final game, the Aussies started strong. The score was tied on several occasions early, and the Australian team led the low-scoring game 20–17 with six minutes to go in the half. Then Breanna Stewart took over, scoring nine consecutive points herself to start a 21–0 run to end the half. At that time, the USA had pushed to a 28–20 lead. The Aussies did not quit, and played close to even in the third period, but they did not make up any ground. The final period was also close, with the USA team slightly outscoring the Aussies, but by the end of the game, the lead was 13 points and the USA won 77–54.[122]
The championship game was a rematch against France, a team the USA had played in the preliminary round, winning by just six points. France scored first, and a few minutes into the game, the score was tied at six points each. However, the USA then went on an 11–2 run to open up a double-digit lead. The game was roughly even from then until the end of the half, with France cutting into the lead slightly. The USA led at halftime 27–20. Earlier in the day, Spain held a 14-point halftime lead over Australia in the bronze medal game, but could not hold on to the lead, so no one was thinking that a seven-point lead was safe. The second half was all USA. The USA started on a 10–0 run, and would end up surrendering only eight points in the second half. France ended up shooting under 22% from the field, and the USA would go on to win the game and the gold medal by a score of 61–28. Stewart was the high scorer for the team with 16 points, and also set a U19 all-time record for scoring with 152 points, which put her ahead of Maya Moore, who scored 147 in 2007. Alexis Jones had 29 assists during the tournament, tying an all-time U18 record established by Ariel Massengale. Stewart was named the MVP of the tournament and named to the all-tournament team.[123]
The USA team's opening game was against Mexico. The USA team started strong and had an early 14–2 lead. Mexico scored the next five points, but late in the first period, the USA started an 18–0 run that continued into the second period. All USA players scored in a 104–55 win.[124] The second game was against El Salvador. The team from El Salvador held an early lead, 5–2, but from then on the USA was the dominant team. Eight of the USA team players recorded double-digit points, while the team hit 68% of their field goal attempts. The USA went on to win easily, 118–50.[125] Game 3 was against undefeated Canada. The team from Canada pulled out to a narrow 23–21 lead at the end of the first quarter. The USA team took the lead in the second quarter and gradually extended the lead, finishing the game with a score of 107–76 Napheesa Collier was the leading scorer, recording a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Briana Turner scored 21 points and set a U18 record, hitting nine of eleven free throw attempts. The win secured a spot in the semi-final game against Argentina.[126]
The semi-final match was against Argentina. The game was never close. The USA team held Argentina to 8 points in the first and second periods, while scoring 30 and 26 respectively. While Argentina out scored the US in the third quarter, the game was largely decided by that point. The USA finished with a win, 97–51, to advance to the gold medal game.[127] The gold medal game was a re-match with Canada. Although Canada scored first and stayed close for a few minutes, with a score at 10–8 halfway through the first period, the USA went on a 12–0 run to take command. Canada got the margin back to eleven at one point, but the USA team extended the lead to 18 points by halftime. The USA won the game and the gold medal by a score of 104–75. A'ja Wilson was the leading scorer with 25 points, and led all rebounders with 11.[48]
In the opening game of the preliminary rounds the USA faced Spain. Both Napheesa Collier and A'ja Wilson recorded double doubles, with Collier scoring 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Wilson recorded a game-high 18 points along with 10 rebounds. Their performances help the team when the opening game 72–57.[129] The following day, the USA play China. Wilson again recorded a double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Collier also scored 17 points, while Azurá Stevens and Shakayla Thomas contributed 16 points and 11 points respectively. The USA won the game 88–62. While there is one game remaining in preliminary play, the USA has already locked up the number one seed in group B.[130] After a day off, the USA faced Egypt in the final game of the preliminary rounds. The USA started out slowly and were down 7–6 early in the game. The USA got untracked in the second quarter outscoring Egypt 38–9, to take a commanding lead. They went on to win easily 104 – 41. Every player on the USA's squad scored, with double digit results for Moore, Thomas, Wilson, Cox and Stevens.[131]
In the round of 16 the USA faced Argentina. The game was never close. The USA had a 28–4 lead at the end of the first quarter, and coasted to win 89–39 when to advance to the quarterfinals. Wilson was the leading scorer with 18 points while Collier, Moore and Stevens each scored 11 points. Moore and Gabbi Ortiz share the lead for assist with six piece.[132] After a day off, the USA played Canada in the quarterfinals. The USA scored the first 11 points of the game, and led 28–5 at the end of the first quarter. Every player on the team scored with game-high honors going to Collier and Moore each with 12 points. Cox led the team in rebounds with 10. The USA won 93–45 to advance to the semi-final game.[133]
The USA played Spain in the semi-finals, a team they had beaten earlier in preliminary play. Collier and Wilson each recorded a double double. Collier scored 24 points on 10 of 13 shooting from the field. Wilson had 20 points and led the team in rebounds with 16. The USA team lead throughout the game and ended up with the win 80–65. The win advanced the team to the finals against the host team Russia.[134] The gold-medal game matched up undefeated Russia (6–0) versus the US, who were also undefeated (6–0). The Russians started off strong, and opened up an eight-point lead at 27–19 in the second quarter. They led through most of the second quarter but late in the second quarter Stevens scored to give the US a lead 35–34 and Wilson had back to back buckets as part of a 9–0 run to take a 39–34 lead at halftime. In the second half, the USA led most of the way but Russia kept the game close and was within a basket at 68–65. The USA then went on a 7–0 run to open up a 10-point lead with under three minutes to go. Russia scored five quick points to cut the lead but Collier scored and Russia was unable to come back. The USA won 78–70 to win the gold-medal for the event. Wilson scored 30 points to set a USA record for a U19 game. That performance helped her earn the MVP award for the event. She along with teammate Collier were named to the five player all-tournament squad.[26]
2016 U18 results
The 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship was held in Valdivia, Chile July 13–17, 2016. In May 2016, the USA Basketball organization selected 30 players to attend Team Trials at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After three days of trials, twelve players were selected to represent the US at the Americas championship.[135]
The team members returned to the training center in July to continue training for the competition, including scrimmages against the Japan Women's U24 National Team.[136]
The opening game was against Guatemala. The USA team took advantage of a 7-inch average height differential to overpower the Guatemala team. The USA team scored the first 14 points of the game and cruised to an easy 117–32 victory.[137] The second game, against Brazil, was much more competitive especially at the beginning. USA was down 8–2 in the early minutes. The game was tied at 13 points apiece when the USA went on a run to take a nine-point lead at the end of the first quarter. The second half started like the first with Brazil scoring the first six points of the half in cutting the lead to six points before the USA expanded the lead. While the USA only scored 20 points in the final quarter their defense held Brazil to 16, leading to a final score in favor the US, 80–59.[138]
The USA had a relatively easy time in the final preliminary match against Venezuela, more than doubling up the score, and winning 110–52. That victory place them into the semi-finals against Puerto Rico, and the results were even more lopsided. The USA one easily 104–36. That set up the gold-medal game against Canada. The USA had only a three-point margin at the end of the first quarter extended that in the second quarter but put the game away in the third quarter when they outscored Canada 33–14. The final score the championship game was 109–62.[139]
Lauren Cox from Flower Mound, Texas was named the tournament MVP.[140]
Anne Theresa Donovan was an American women's basketball player and coach. From 2013 to 2015, she was the head coach of the Connecticut Sun.
Ann Elise Strother is an American basketball coach, and former professional player, most recently for the Indiana Fever. Strother played at the collegiate level for the Connecticut Huskies, helping the team to two national titles.
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The USA Women’s World University Games Team is one of the teams under the auspices of the USA Basketball organization. The Universiade is an international, multi-sport event for university students, generally held every other year since 1959. It is second only to the Olympics in number of participants. The United States has participated in women's basketball since their first participation in 1973 at the VII Summer Universiade. USA Basketball has organized the participation except for 2003 and 2007. In 2003 an All-Star team selected from the Big 12 Conference represented the US in Daegu, South Korea. In 2007, the Charlotte 49ers, the basketball team at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, represented the USA in Bangkok, Thailand.
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The USA women's national under-17 basketball team is the women's basketball team, administered by USA Basketball, that represents the United States in international under-17 and under-16 women's basketball competitions, consisting mainly of the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship for Women and FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women. These events replaced the USA Basketball Women's Youth Development Festival.
Breanna Mackenzie Stewart, nicknamed "Stewie", is an American professional basketball player for the New York Liberty of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She is one of the most accomplished players in basketball history. Stewart is also a founder of the Unrivaled basketball league along with Napheesa Collier.
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The 2012–13 Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2012–13 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Huskies, coached by Geno Auriemma, played their home games at two different venues—the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, and on campus at the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut. Connecticut was a member of the Big East Conference in the league's final season before its split along football lines into the football-sponsoring American Athletic Conference and the new, non-football Big East. Connecticut, as an FBS football school, became a member of The American, which retained the charter of the original Big East.
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Gold: (1997, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023)
Silver: (2017)
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