Temple University Athletics
STALEY SET TO COACH HER FIRST USA BASKETBALL GAME
3.30.06 | Women's Basketball
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO- Due to the timing of the 2006 WNBA Draft, USA assistant coach Dawn Staley will step in as the acting head coach for the United States National Team's first contest in Australia. USA head coach Anne Donovan (Seattle Storm) and assistant coach Mike Thibault (Connecticut Sun) will travel to Australia following the draft and Donovan will reassume head coaching duties for the USA's second contest. Staley will train the team in Boston April 1-4, where the U.S. will prepare for the April 7-12 Opals World Challenge, featuring Australia, China and Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), in Cairns and Canberra, Australia.
Olympic gold medalists Swin Cash (Detroit Shock), a member of the first European Tour squad; Ruth Riley (Detroit Shock); Katie Smith (Detroit Shock), who competed in both of the USA's 2006 European tours; and Tina Thompson (Houston Comets) will provide the veteran leadership for a squad that will feature young WNBA talent in 2006 USA Women's National Team spring training participants Alana Beard (Washington Mystics); Kristin Haynie (Sacramento Monarchs) and Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs); as well as Shameka Christon (New York Liberty), a member of the 2001 bronze medal winning USA Junior World Championship Team. The internationally experienced crew of collegians all helped the U.S. earn the 2005 World University Games gold medal. A member of five USA Basketball teams, Cappie Pondexter boasts four golds and one bronze medal in international play. Most notably, Pondexter and Seimone Augustus, the 2003 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year and MVP of the 2003 FIBA World Championship For Young Women, teamed up to lead the 2003 USA World Championship For Young Women Team to gold in Croatia.
In addition to the 12-member squad that will compete in Australia, three-time Olympic gold medalist Sheryl Swoopes (Houston Comets) will practice during the team's Boston training camp. Due to prior commitments, she is unable to compete in Australia.
USA athletes involved in the Final Four and/or the 2005 WNBA Draft will travel with Donovan and Thibault and join the squad in Australia.
USA Basketball will announce the final 12-member 2006 USA World Championship Team by the end of June.
