2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship For Women -- Just the Facts

OFFICIAL TITLE: 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Women

EVENT SITE: Gurabo, Puerto Rico

DATES: August 15-19, 2012

PARTICIPATING TEAMS: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States.

USA TEAM TRIALS: May 18-21 @ Colorado Springs, Colo.

USA TEAM TRAINING SCHEDULE: May 28 - June 2 @ Orlando, Fla.; Aug. 3-14 @ Colorado Springs, Colo.

EVENT DESCRIPTION: The FIBA Americas Women's U18 Championship features eight national teams from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean. The top three finishing teams qualify for the 2013 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship. Players eligible for this competition must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1994.

EVENT HISTORY: Originally known as the FIBA Americas Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament, the event was held every four years beginning in 1988. FIBA recently changed its calendar and the tournament is now conducted every other year, followed in the next summer by the FIBA U19 World Championship.

USA women's teams boast of a remarkable 38-2 overall record in U18 / Junior Qualifiers and have won gold in 1988, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010, while capturing silver medals in 1992 and 1996.

Sites of prior FIBA Americas U18 Championships for Women include Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 2010; Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2008; Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2006; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, in 2004; Mardel Plata, Argentina, in 2000; Chetumal, Mexico, in 1996; Guanajuato, Mexico, in 1992; and Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1988.

FIBA AMERICAS U18 CHAMPIONSHIP - USA PLAYERS OF NOTE: Jayne Appel (2006); Alana Beard (2000); Kelsey Bone (2008); Tamika Catchings (1996); Marissa Coleman (2004); Skylar Diggins (2008); Stacey Ford (1998); Sonja Henning (1988); Niesa Johnson (1992); Rebecca Lobo (1992); Maya Moore (2006); Chiney Ogwumike (2010); 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).