USA Basketball 2010 Women's Select Team >> Photo Gallery & Quotes

April 15, 2010 - Hartford, Conn.

Geno Auriemma
USA Women's National Team Head Coach
On the Select Team practice:
It was good for me to see some of the pros come in here, and it's been good for me to see some of the college kids come in here. And it's really neat to see the difference and for them to see the difference among themselves and the difference between themselves and the pros. So, it's benefitted everyone to have (training camp), and it certainly benefitted me to have it here because I still get to do my job a little bit and do that, so it's been good.

On Kalana Green practicing with the National Team members and the Select Team this week:
Part of it is her familiarity with me and what I want, so that certainly is a big advantage. But when you start looking around and you say, 'Wow, a big guard that plays as hard as she does, and plays defense and rebounds and plays with so much energy,' all of the sudden you look around and there's not a lot of those out there. She's put herself in a really good situation, and I'm happy for her because I think this has given her a level of confidence that I don't know anything else could have. Because I watch her now, maybe making first team All-Big East, maybe winning a National Championship again, but I just see this level of confidence in her that I have never seen before, and it's been incredible. If you would have told me this three or four years ago, I would have said Impossible, and I'm seeing something that I always hoped I would see.

Jacinta Monroe
(Washington Mystics / Florida State / Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)
Three of your 2009 World University Games teammates also are on the USA Select Team. What is it like getting to play with them again?
Fun, of course. We had a lot of fun in Serbia and in training camp last year, so just to see them again and rekindle old friendships has been fun.

What was your first experince playing for Geno Auriemma like?
It was really good. He's straight forward. He's fun. Usually when you are the best coach in the country you'd think he was intense, and he is, but he's also easy going and easy to ask questions. So, I'm having fun.

The purpose of this select team is partly to develop future Women's National Team players. Is that a goal of yours?
I do have dreams of being at the highest level. It's been a dream of mine since I started playing basketball. So, I'm just going to keep working hard, like they say, and never give up. I'm going to give it my best shot.

Do you feel pressure or are you nervous?
No, not nervous at all. If I just keep the mindset of having fun and working hard, then everything else will fall into place.

Nneka Ogwumike
(Stanford / Cypress, Texas)
You are back playing for USA Basketball after earning gold medals with the 2008 USA U18 National Team and the 2009 USA U19 World Championship Team, what's it like to be back in a USA jersey?
It feels great. I don't think I've ever played on the a USA team with anyone here, but I've been to trials with a few. I'm on the younger side in this group. It's fun to be around a lot of girls that have been sucessful throughout their season, and we are having a lot of fun and working hard.

What was your first experince playing for Geno Auriemma like?
I thought it was great. I like him a lot. Anyone who gets to practice under him is lucky. He's very charismatic and he's entertaining as well, but he also knows how to talk to people and get the job done. So, he just ties all of those personalities into practice, and I think it's really great.

The purpose of this select team is partly to develop future Women's National Team players. Does that make you nervous or put pressure on you?
Just a little bit, but at the same time, they invited everyone here for a reason. You just have to take advantage of the opportunity and just seize the moment. I think it's a really great introduction into what the National Team level is like. I'm really excited that I get to do it with this group of people, and I'm really honored that they invited me.

How do you think you did adjusting to a new coach and a new system today?
I felt like I played alright. Everyone is willing to learn and willing to work hard, and I think the congruency is kind of immersing itself because he is really teaching us lot of new offenses and things that they plan to run. It's also kind of similar to how we run it at Stanford, so it's not like it's something completely new to me. It's kind of a refresher course, but also at the same time learning new material, so I'm really excited as well.

Andrea Riley
(Los Angeles Sparks / Oklahoma State / Dallas, Texas)
What has your first experience with USA Basketball been like?
It's been fun. Being surrounded by a lot of great players, it's like you have to step up your game a little bit, but at the same time you can just relax because you can take a breath of fresh air and say, 'I have a lot of people surrounding me, and I can lay back off a little.' So it's really been fun. We really learned a lot in the day, and I'm just ready to learn more.

The purpose of this select team is partly to develop future Women's National Team players. Does that make you nervous or put pressure on you?
It's exciting, and it makes you want to step up your game. Everybody has had a dream about being on something with USA on their chest because we watch it so much. To have a chance to be scouted to be in that position, is really exciting and kind of overwhelming. At the same time, it's always just basketball.

What was your first experince playing for Geno Auriemma like?
It was fun. He's really funny, but he's really an inspiration and motivating. He tries to get the best out of you, and that's the type of coach I like to play for.