How does Team USA look going into the AmeriCup?

While seeing USA Basketball on the front of the jersey typically is synonymous with domination, the AmeriCup differs from other international events. Team USA sends collegiate players to face seasoned women with Olympic and World Cup experience on their resumes. Brazil won the previous edition in 2023, and is the most-successful program in AmeriCup history.

Still, the American team is a who’s who of college standouts. The U.S. roster features: Raegan Beers, Mikayla Blakes, Madison Booker, Audi Crooks, Joyce Edwards, Hannah Hidalgo, Flau’jae Johnson, Gianna Kneepkens, Olivia Miles, Kennedy Smith, Hannah Stuelke, and Grace VanSlooten.

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Duke’s Kara Lawson is the head coach and will be assisted by Oklahoma’s Jennie Baranczyk and Old Dominion’s DeLisha Milton-Jones. In addition to winning the Olympic gold medal together at Beijing in 2008, Lawson mentioned that she and Milton-Jones also won the 2007 AmeriCup. That was the previous time it was held in Chile (at Valdivia), and their careers have come full circle.

“We have players who have great versatility, which is important,” Lawson said in a Zoom conference. “We have players who are great competitors, which I like a lot as a characteristic. Now, we are having conversations how difficult it is to win internationally and how hard you have to play. We understand we are a college group going to play in a professional setting. We are going to have to play at a higher physical level.”

Booker and Edwards lead the front court

Booker, the 6’1 forward from the University of Texas, won gold at the 2023 Under-19 World Cup, the 2022 Under-17 World Cup and the 2021 Under-16 Americas Championship. She also owns the distinction of being the Big 12 and SEC Player of the Year the past two seasons.

“We have a great team here,” the 20-year-old Booker told The Next. “We are still trying to build that chemistry, but overall, I feel great. Our overall goal is to win that gold, so I think we all have the same mindset here. I am playing against grown women, women who have been playing pro overseas. It’s going to be physical. It’s another opportunity to learn and grow. I am more confident, especially playing in college. I am growing my game and playing my best basketball.”

Edwards, the 19-year-old sophomore for the University of South Carolina, was the MVP of the 2024 FIBA Under-18 Women’s AmeriCup. At that event in Colombia, she averaged 14.2 points and 7.2 rebounds. The 6’2 forward was also a member of the All-Star Five at the 2023 Under-19 World Cup in Spain, where she recorded 12.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.

“We have shooters and guards who play both ways and athletic bigs,” Edwards said. “Our team is really complete this year and confident. We are playing against grown women who are stronger and faster. At the end of the day, you just need to go in and be confident and trust your teammates. I am not going for any individual accolade, our goal is to win gold. Some of the things we did in college translate to the AmeriCup, and some of the things we do at the AmeriCup translate to college.”

Kennedy Smith, who plays for the University of Southern California, is the only other player on the roster from the Under-18 AmeriCup team. In addition to Edwards and Smith, Blakes – who plays guard at Vanderbilt – is the other 19 year old on the team.

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Group A: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Dominican Republic, and El Salvador

Even though Brazil is the reigning AmeriCup winners, its archrival — Argentina — won the South American championship last year, with MVP Florencia Chagas leading the way. Brazil’s Kamilla Cardoso was the MVP of the 2023 AmeriCup, averaging 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds, as her team bested a U.S. squad that included Angel Reese and Rickea Jackson in the final. Damiris Dantas of the Indiana Fever is also suiting up for the Brazilians, and Pokey Chatman is the coach.

Nell Fortner, the 2000 U.S. Olympic coach, debuts with Team Canada, the defending bronze medalists. Canada is seeking to improve on its 11^th place finish at the Paris Games. Returners from the Olympics include Shay Colley (12.3 points per game in Paris) and former Syracuse center Kayla Alexander, who produced 9.3 points and 7.3 rebounds.

Group B: Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and USA

The toughest challenge for the U.S. in its group is Puerto Rico. Gerardo Batista’s squad won the 2024 CentroBasket. In addition, Arella Guirantes recorded more than 20 points per game at the 2023 AmeriCup. Mya Hollingshed, who grabbed a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game at the Paris Olympics, returns, as well.

The winner qualifies directly to next year’s World Cup in Germany, and second through sixth advance for the World Cup Qualifying Tournaments. 

 “This is a business trip,” Booker added. “What’s on everybody’s mind here is winning gold.”