Draw Announced For 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Women

-- U18 Championship To Be Held June 23-27 At U.S. Olympic Training Center In Colorado Springs --

USA Basketball announced on Feb. 3, 2010, that it had been selected by FIBA Americas to host the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women. The zone tournament, which will qualify four teams for the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship for Women, is being held at Sports Center I at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Only athletes born on or after Jan. 1, 1992, are eligible for the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship.

Originally known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifier, the FIBA Americas U18 Championship was held every four years from 1988 through 2004, and is now contested every other year. USA women's teams boast of a remarkable 33-2 overall record in the U18/junior qualifiers and have won gold in 1988, 2000, 2004, 2006 and 2008, while capturing silver medals in 1992 and 1996.

Sites of prior FIBA Americas U18 Championships for Women include: Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2008; Colorado Springs in 2006; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, in 2004; Mar del Plata, Argentina, in 2000; Chetumal, Mexico, in 1996; Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1992; and Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1988.

Some of the top players who have represented the United States in the past U18 tournaments include: Jayne Appel (2006); Alana Beard (2000); Tamika Catchings (1996); Tina Charles (2006); Marissa Coleman (2004); Skylar Diggins (2008); Stacey Ford (1998); Sonja Henning (1988); Niesa Johnson (1992); Rebecca Lobo (1992); Maya Moore (2006); Nneka Ogwumike (2008); Candace Parker (2004); Courtney Paris (2004); Cappie Pondexter (2000); Nicole Powell (2000); Lynn Pride (1996); Diana Taurasi (2000); Candice Wiggins (2004); and Tiffany Woosley (1992).

The awarding of the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women to USA Basketball adds to a long list of competitions the national governing body has held in the United States. USA Basketball, which will also host the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men in San Antonio, Texas, has hosted the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship for Men (Olympic qualifier) (Las Vegas, Nev.); 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men (San Antonio, Texas); 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women (Colorado Springs, Colo.); 2002 FIBA Men's World Championship (Indianapolis, Ind.); 1992 FIBA Americas Tournament of the Americas / Olympic Qualifier (Portland, Ore.); 1985 FIBA Women's Junior World Championship (Colorado Springs, Colo.); and the first COPABA Women's Junior World Championship in 1977 (Squaw Valley, Calif.).

USA Basketball Women's U18 Championship Team
USA Basketball will conduct trials for the USA U18 Women's Team June 8-11 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, with approximately 30 U.S. hopefuls participating. Following selection of finalists for the USA U18 squad, the Americans will break until just prior to the start of the tournament when they reassemble to being final preparations.

Selection of the USA U18 Team will be made by the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee, which is chaired by Sue Donohoe of the NCAA and also consists of Joanne Boyle (University of California head coach), Coquese Washington (Penn State University head coach), Connie Yori (University of Nebraska head coach), and athlete representative Beth Cunningham (1999 USA Pan American Games Team member).