USA Basketball Friday named the first 11 members of the 12-woman squad that will seek a fifth straight Olympic gold at the London Games, a group that includes a trio of two-time Olympic champions.
Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi, all of whom won gold medals at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games, return.
Four players who have each earned one Olympic gold and four newcomers to the Games are included, with the final player to be named at a later date.
Among the previous gold medallists on the team, Swin Cash was on the US team in Athens in 2004. Seimone Augusts, Sylvia Fowls and Candace Parker who all won gold in Beijing in 2008.
Tina Charles, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen are headed to their first Olympics.
"The USA Basketball Women's National Team program has been able to sustain an unparalleled level of success in Olympic competition," said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball chief executive.
"That is due, in part, to the continuity of its players. We believe we have selected the best core group possible to continue our success on the international stage."
All 11 play professionally in the WNBA and most of them spend the US league's off-season in playing in China or Europe.
Five of those selected -- Bird, Taurasi, Cash, Moore and Charles -- formerly played at the University of Connecticut, whose coach Geno Auriemma will guide the Olympic team.
"I think anytime you're choosing a team made up of the best players, not only the best players in the country, they're some of the best players in the world, it's very difficult to come to a team of 12," Auriemma said.
"I think for the 11, the committee took into consideration what the competition is and who we're going to have to beat, and put together a really incredible group of players that is not only highly skilled and competitive, they're proven winners."
Seven countries have claimed spots in the eventual 12-nation field, including host country Britain. The US clinched their berth with the 2010 world title, while Angola, Australia, Brazil, China and Russia have secured berths by winning their regional qualifying tournaments.
Twelve nations will fight for the last five spots at the Olympic qualifying tournament June 25-July 1 in Ankara, Turkey.
Source: AFP American Edition
