Former champs and favorites USA make last picks for Bangkok mission

COLORADO SPRINGS (USA) – USA are looking to return to the top of the podium at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2019 and the former champions have revealed who's been tasked with the mission.

Losing their crown in 2017 to Russia was a painful experience and having assessed 30 players via trials held at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, they've confirmed the final roster of players who will try to bring back the glory days.

All 12 athletes have prior USA Basketball experience, 10 of whom have earned gold medals in international competition. Half the roster and namely Belibi, Boston, Brink, Bueckers, Taylor and VanLith all grabbed winners' medals last year on the global stage at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Minsk.

 Boston was the USA's leading scorer at the event in the Belarusian capital, while another star in Bangkok could be Rhyne Howard, who was crowned MVP last year as USA romped their way to the U18 Americas title with a 5-0 record. 

  “I’m really impressed with all the young women who came out here to be a part of the trials," said head coach Jeff Waltz.

"And now that we’re down to 12, I’m looking forward to getting to know them before we come back here on July 5 to start practice.

 “It’s a versatile group. We’ve got some very strong post players, some very dynamic guards. I think we have a chance to do a lot of different things on the basketball court," added the play-caller.

USA will face Australia, Korea and Hungary when the Group stage tips off in Thailand.

FIBA