The United States women’s preliminary Olympic basketball team was announced just a few days ago, landing a field of 20 of the WNBA’s best players (and one collegiate standout). The 2012 Summer Olympics will be played in London, England. Gino Auriemma, head coach of the Connecticut women’s basketball team, will have a tough decision trying to narrow the field down to just 12 individuals as they try to go for their fifth straight Olympic gold basketball medals this summer. Among the 21 players that were selected to the preliminary team are Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Tamika Catchings who have all won Olympic gold twice now.
Here is a list of the 21 players selected to the USA women’s preliminary basketball team;
- Jayne Appel – San Antonio Silver Stars
- Seimone Augustus – Minnesota Lynx
- Sue Bird – Seattle Storm
- Rebekkah Brunson – Minnesota Lynx
- Swin Cash – Chicago Sky
- Tamika Catchings – Indiana Fever
- Tina Charles – Connecticut Sun
- Candice Dupree – Phoenix Mercury
- Sylvia Fowles – Chicago Sky
- Brittney Griner – Baylor University (collegiate standout)
- Lindsey Harding – Atlanta Dream
- Asjha Jones – Connecticut Sun
- Kara Lawson – Connecticut Sun
- Angel McCoughtry – Atlanta Dream
- Renee Montgomery – Connecticut Sun
- Maya Moore – Minnesota Lynx
- Candace Parker – Los Angles Sparks
- Cappie Pondexter – New York Liberty
- Diana Taurasi – Phoenix Mercury
- Lindsay Whalen – Minnesota Lynx
- Sophia Young – San Antonio Silver Stars
Brittney Griner, the 6-foot-8 center for the undefeated Baylor Bears recently just clinched the Big 12 title on Saturday afternoon. If she is able to make the cut to 12, she will be the first collegiate women’s basketball player to make the roster since Vicky Bullett of Maryland and Bridgette Gordon of Tennessee made the cut in 1988. Through 26 NCAA games this season, Griner is averaging 23.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.3 blocks per game. If Griner can make the cut, this could potentially be her first of many Olympic gold basketball medals to come!
Notes: There are four WNBA players from the Minnesota Lynx and four players from the Connecticut Sun that were selected to the US women’s preliminary basketball team.
