Competition fierce for USA women roster spots as preliminary squad is named

COLORADO SPRINGS (2016 Rio Olympics) - The United States women's basketball team is gearing up for a run at a sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal this summer in Rio de Janeiro.

It remains to be seen which combatants will wear the red, white and blue, though, because USA Basketball have named a 25-strong list of finalists.

There are so many outstanding talents with a chance to make the side, in fact, that coach Geno Auriemma says there could be two teams. And rest assured, those two teams would be good enough to make runs for the podium.

When I look at this list of athletes, we could split them down the middle and have two very competitive teams. - Auriemma

So which players have to impress in the coming months to be on the plane to Rio? The candidates include Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi, a trio that won gold medals at the past three Sumer Games.

There are two-time Olympic gold medalists Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles and Candace Parker (2008, 2012), and Olympic first-time winners in London in Tina Charles, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen.

Maya Moore (USA) is one of the best players in the world

There are plenty of others hoping to make their Olympic bows that are candidates. Among them are WNBA superstar Elena Delle Donne and a couple of stars that had important roles in the last USA team to win the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship, Candice Dupree and Brittney Griner.

"I think the (selection) committee has a tough decision ahead of it. We have a great mix of gold medalists and players who are hungry to play in their first Olympics. There is versatility at all positions. Our posts are the strongest we've seen in years, we have guys who can shoot, guys who can defend, and I'm just happy I don't have to make the decision as to who will be playing in Rio." - Auriemma

The USA could not be in better hands. Auriemma has steered the Americans to 23 wins in as many games and gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2010 and 2014 FIBA Women's World Championships.

At the last World Championship, Serbia and Australia played the USA in tough games but Auriemma's side never really looked in danger of losing at the tournament.

The USA women have not lost in a game since the 2006 Women's World Championship, when Russia upset them in the Semi-Finals.

One person that always has a lot of input in the make-up of the team is Carol Callan, the USA Basketball women's national team director and chair of the player selection committee.

Because of the quality and talent in the USA National Team pool, every time we pare the list it is a difficult task. Yet, we eventually have to get down to a 12-member team, so we conscientiously look at the present goal of winning a gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games with an eye to sustaining our success in the future. This list of finalists is a mix of veterans, youth, international savvy and USA Basketball experience. - Callan

USA list of candidates for Olympic squad - Finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team include: Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins, Stefanie Dolson, Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Brittney Griner, Briann January, Jantel Lavender, Kayla McBride, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Chiney Ogwumike, Nnemkadi Ogwumike, Candace Parker, Danielle Robinson, Odyssey Sims, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Courtney Vandersloot and Lindsay Whalen.

FIBA