2009-12 USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Update

As of March 2, 2010

- Official Announcement
- Additional Quotes

Twelve internationally experienced players, including one Olympic gold medalist, have been added to the 2010-12 USA Basketball Women's National Team roster, USA Basketball today announced. The 12 athletes bring the pool of players from which the 2010 USA World Championship Team and, should the USA qualify, the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team will be selected to 20. We pulled together some information on all 20 players - where they are now, what they've been doing, and so forth - to get you back up to date on the team.

Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx)

• On Jan. 24 Augustus became the first woman to have her LSU jersey retired, joining former LSU Tigers basketball players Pete Maravich, Bob Pettit, Rudy Macklin and Shaquille O'Neal.
• Spent the 2009-10 season rehabbing the ACL injury she suffered on June 17, 2009, and was unable to return to compete for her former Galatasaray (Turkey) EuroLeague club.

Alana Beard (Washington Mystics)

• Returned to play in her second EuroLeague season for LOTOS Gdynia (Poland), which went 3-7 and finished in fourth place in Group D qualifying play.
• Competed in six games for LOTOS and averaged 12.3 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.5 apg., between Nov. 12 and Dec. 17, 2009.
• Currently taking a break from competition and is training with Washington Mystics coach Julie Plank daily in D.C.

Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)

• After taking some time off following the USA National Team's fall training camp, returned to Spartak Moscow Region (Russia), where she previously aided Spartak to three consecutive EuroLeague titles.
• Arrived in time for the team's final three preliminary games and is currently averaging 9.3 ppg. and 3.9 apg., while shooting 50.0 percent from the field, including 45.8 percent (11-24 3pt FGs) from 3-point, in seven EuroLeague games for a 14-0 Spartak club that's advanced to its fourth straight EuroLeague Final Four.
• Spartak is currently 12-1 in the Russia Super League, having lost only to UMMC Ekaterinburg, which it will face in the EuroLeague semifinals.
• Plays alongside USA National Team teammates Sylvia Fowles and Diana Taurasi, as well as American Janel McCarville, Latvian Anete Jekabsone-Zogota and Russians Marina Karpunina, Ilona Korstin and Irina Osipova.

Swin Cash (Seattle Storm)

• Spent the 2009-10 season playing for Guangdong Asiaaluminum (China) and helped her team to a 14-8 record and a fifth-place finish; averaged team-highs of 22.9 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.1 apg.
• The team lost in the first round of playoffs, despite averages from Cash of 22.0 ppg., 12.5 rpg. and 3.5 apg.

Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever)

• Signed on to play for Galatasaray Istanbul (Turkey) in time for the EuroLeague playoffs, and in the team's two Sweet Sixteen losses to UMMC Ekaterinburg, Catchings averaged 11.0 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3.5 apg. and 1.0 spg.
• Remaining in Turkey to help Gala in its quest for the Turkish league title.

Tina Charles (University of Connecticut)

• In the midst of a 69-0 winning streak at the University of Connecticut. Closed out the 2009-10 regular season with a 30-0 record, the Big East Conference title and will begin defense of the Big East Tournament crown this weekend.
• Currently averaging 18.2 ppg., 9.2 rpg. and 2.0 bpg., while shooting 63.7 percent from the field in fewer than 27 minutes a game.

Shameka Christon (New York Liberty)

• Competed for LOTOS Gdynia (Poland) and averaged 10.6 ppg., 2.9 rpg. and 1.7 apg. over seven EuroLeague contests.
• Only signed on to play for three months and returned to the U.S. to rest prior to the 2010 WNBA season.

Candice Dupree (Chicago Sky)

• Competed alongside USA National Team member Angel McCoughtry for Good Angels Kosice (Slovakia) and helped the team to its first EuroLeague playoff victory as the team advanced to the quarterfinals, fell to UMMC Ekaterinburg and finished with a 8-6 record.
• Finished the season averaging a EuroLeague-high 11.0 rpg., and ranked third in the league for scoring at 18.9 ppg.
• Remained in Slovakia to help Good Angels in its quest for the Slovakia league championship.
• Will compete in the 2010 EuroLeague All-Star Game on March 9 in Gdynia, Poland.

Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky)

• Returned to Spartak Moscow Region (Russia), where she played last season and helped Spartak to the 2009 EuroLeague crown.
• Currently averaging 14.9 ppg., a team-high 9.0 rpg. and is shooting a blistering 64.6 percent from the field while playing in all 14 EuroLeague games for the 14-0 Spartak club that has advanced to the 2010 EuroLeague Final Four.
• Spartak is currently 12-1 in the Russia Super League, having lost only to UMMC Ekaterinburg, which it will face in the EuroLeague semifinals.
• Plays alongside USA National Team teammates Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, as well as American Janel McCarville, Latvian Anete Jekabsone-Zogota and Russians Marina Karpunina, Ilona Korstin and Irina Osipova.

Lindsey Harding (Washington Mystics)

• Competing for TEO Vilnius (Lithuania) and averaged 16.5 ppg. and 2.5 apg. during its final two EuroLeague contests.
• Remained in Lithuania to aid TEO in its domestic league title hunt; TEO is currently in second place with a 20-3 record.

Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun)

• Competed in six EuroLeague qualifying games for UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia) and averaged 7.0 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and 1.8 apg.

Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun)

• Spending the off-season working out and commentating for ESPN.

Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream)

• Competed alongside USA National Team member Candice Dupree for Good Angels Kosice (Slovakia) and helped the team to its first EuroLeague playoff victory as the team advanced to the quarterfinals, fell to UMMC Ekaterinburg and finished with a 8-6 record.
• Finished the season averaging a EuroLeague second-best 19.0 ppg., while also contributing 7.8 ppg. and 2.4 apg. in 12 EuroLeague contests.
• Remained in Slovakia to help Good Angels win the Slovakia League championship.
• Will compete in the 2010 EuroLeague All-Star Game on March 9 in Gdynia, Poland.

Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun)

• Competed for TEO Vilnius (Lithuania) and played eight EuroLeague contests in the qualifying round, averaged 17.6 ppg., 3.1 rpg. and 3.9 apg.
• Returned to the USA and has been working for ESPN as a commentator for women's college basketball.
• Has been working out, practiced with Connecticut a few times and plans to practice with the team more in the future.

Maya Moore (University of Connecticut)

• In the midst of a 69-0 winning streak at the University of Connecticut. Closed out the 2009-10 regular season with a 30-0 record, the Big East Conference title and will begin defense of the Big East Tournament crown this weekend.
• Currently averaging team-highs of 18.5 ppg., 3.9 apg. and 2.1 spg., while adding 8.1 rpg. and shooting 51.9 percent from the field in a little over 28 minutes a game.

Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks)

• Competing alongside USA National Team member Cappie Pondexter for UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia), which has advanced to the EuroLeague Final Four, where it will face Spartak in the semifinals.
• Joined UMMC for its final two qualifying games and playoff push, averaging 12.8 ppg., 8.2 rpg. and 1.5 apg. in six contests.
• UMMC Ekaterinburg is currently 14-0 in the Russia Super League standings.
• Also playing alongside international standouts Sandrine Gruda of France; Russia's Olga Arteshina, Maria Stepanova and Svetlana Abrosimova; Belgium's Ann Wauters; Poland's Agnieszka Bibrzycka and WNBA champion Deanna Nolan.

Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury)

• Competing alongside USA National Team member Candace Parker for UMMC Ekaterinburg (Russia), which has advanced to the EuroLeague Final Four, where it will face Spartak in the semifinals.
• Missed UMMC's first three games and is averaging 11.3 ppg., 4.1 rpg. and 3.5 apg. as Ekaterinburg has rolled to a 14-0 record in EuroLeague play.
• UMMC Ekaterinburg is currently 14-0 in the Russia Super League standings.
• Also playing alongside international standouts Sandrine Gruda of France; Russia's Olga Arteshina, Maria Stepanova and Svetlana Abrosimova; Belgium's Ann Wauters; Poland's Agnieszka Bibrzycka and WNBA champion Deanna Nolan.
• Would have been a 2010 EuroLeague All-Star, however, only two players from each team are allowed to compete. With Gruda and Biba garnering more votes for the Europe Team, the next highest vote-getter, USA National Team member Candice Dupree, was bumped up as a starter.

Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)

• Returned for her fourth season playing for Spartak Moscow Region (Russia), where she aided Spartak to three consecutive EuroLeague titles.
• Has led the EuroLeague for scoring all season and is currently averaging 23.7 ppg., while adding 5.2 rpg. and 3.8 apg. in 14 EuroLeague games for a 14-0 Spartak club that's advanced to its fourth straight Final Four.
• Spartak is currently 12-1 in the Russia Super League, having lost only to UMMC Ekaterinburg, which it will face in the EuroLeague semifinals.
• Plays alongside USA National Team teammates Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles, as well as American Janel McCarville, Latvian Anete Jekabsone-Zogota and Russians Marina Karpunina, Ilona Korstin and Irina Osipova.
• Will compete in the 2010 EuroLeague All-Star Game on March 9 in Gdynia, Poland.

Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx)

• Competing in her third season for ZVVZ USK Prague (Czech Republic) and averaging 15.6 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 12 EuroLeague contests.
• ZVVZ advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, where the team fell to DeLisha Milton-Jones and Ros Casares.
• Is currently in the hunt for the Czech league title.
• Will compete in the 2010 EuroLeague All-Star Game on March 9 in Gdynia, Poland.

Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx)

• Competing for Sony Athinaikos (Greece), is averaging 16.0 ppg., 3.8 rpg. and 2.5 apg. in 12 EuroCup contests.
• Helped Sony Athinaikos to a 11-1 slate and the EuroCup Final Four, where her team faces Michelle Snow and Dynamo Kursk on March 11 for the right to advance to the championship game.