March 7, 2006 • Gdynia, Poland

Good Times USA Basketball Women's National Team members have been enjoying their time in Europe and took a moment between practices, games and jokes to pose for the camera. (Photo: USA Basketball)

After taking a 95-78 victory over MKB Euroleasing in Sopron, Hungary, on March 6, USA Basketball traveled to Poland on March 7 and will go up against 2006 EuroLeague quarterfinalist Lotos Gdynia on March 8 and March 9. The U.S. is using the tour to evaluate players and prepare for the 2006 FIBA World Championship and the teams square off both nights at 6:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m. ET).

Lotos advanced to the EuroLeague playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, but fell to MiZo-Pécs in the Eighth Finals after taking the best of three series to three games. The squad was led this season by 6-0 guard Agnieszka Bibrzycka (16.5 ppg., 3.8 rpg., 2.1 apg.), while 5-8 guard Gordana Kovacevic (12.9 ppg., 1.7 apg.) and 6-4 center Ewelina Kobryn (10.4 ppg., 7.0 rpg.) also contributed to the squad's success.

Lotos added a pair of Yanks to its roster prior to the EuroLeague playoffs: 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson, the Washington Mystics 5-3 guard, who won a gold medal as a member of the 2003 USA World Championship For Young Women Team. Also added to the Lotos team is 2005 rookie Chelsea Newton, a 5-11 guard, who won the 2005 WNBA title as a member of the Sacramento Monarchs. Both players are still in Gdynia as Lotos is still in the hunt for the Polish League title.

This marks the second time the U.S. has faced Lotos. On March 21, 2004, the USA Senior National Team bested Lotos 86-64 behind 21 points from Tina Thompson, while Tangela Smith was the team's high rebounder (7) and Sue Bird led in assists (5).

The USA will be without it's high scorer from the first exhibition game as DeLisha Milton-Jones (Washington Mystics) was selected for the World Team in the inaugural EuroLeague All-Star Game, also slated for March 8,but will return for the USA's final contest of this tour. Also playing in the All-Star Game for the Europe Team is Bibrzycka, who is also expected to return to the court against the USA on March 9.

Headed by four-time Olympic team member and Seattle Storm head coach Anne Donovan, the U.S. roster is highlighted by five Olympic gold medalists, including 2000 and 2004 Olympian Katie Smith (Detroit Shock), 2000 Olympian Milton-Jones, and 2004 Olympic champs Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Detroit Shock) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury).

The USA's first European Tour roster also features eight other USA Basketball and internationally experienced athletes, including 2003 FIBA World Championship for Young Women gold medalist Alana Beard (Washington Mystics), who also captured bronze at the 2001 FIBA Junior World Championship and was named to the five-member All-World Championship Team at both events; 2002 World Championship for Young Women Qualifying Tournament gold medalist Kara Braxton (Detroit Shock); 1998 R. William Jones Cup gold medalist Becky Hammon (New York Liberty); Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs), who won a gold medal at the 2001 World University Games and bronze at the 1998 World Youth Games; 2003 FIBA World Championship for Young Women gold medalist Kristen Mann (Minnesota Lynx); 1995 U.S. Olympic Festival participant Chasity Melvin (Washington Mystics); 2003 FIBA World Championship for Young Women and 2002 World Championship for Young Women Qualifying Tournament gold medalist Nicole Ohlde (Minnesota Lynx); and Nicole Powell (Sacramento Monarchs), who won a silver medal at the 2003 Pan American Games and a bronze medal at the 2001 FIBA Junior World Championship.

Donovan is being assisted on the sidelines in Europe by 2006 USA World Championship assistant and WNBA Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault, the only coach known to have served as a coach for a USA Basketball men's and women's team.