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USA Women’s World Cup team named USA Basketball Team of the Year

By Carly Grenfell

TENERIFE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 30: Elena Delle Donne #11 Nnemkadi Ogwumike #13 Layshia Clarendon #7 and Sue Bird #6 of the USA National Team look on with the Championship trophy after defeating the Australia team during the Gold Medal Game of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup at Pabellon de Deportes de Tenerife Santiago Martin on September 30, 2018 in San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images)
TENERIFE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 30: Elena Delle Donne #11 Nnemkadi Ogwumike #13 Layshia Clarendon #7 and Sue Bird #6 of the USA National Team look on with the Championship trophy after defeating the Australia team during the Gold Medal Game of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup at Pabellon de Deportes de Tenerife Santiago Martin on September 30, 2018 in San Cristobal de La Laguna, Spain. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE. (Photo by Catherine Steenkeste/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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A dominant team gets recognized by USA Basketball.

Beating opponents by an average of 20.3 points en route to a 6-0 finish at the 2018 FIBA World Cup will certainly land you USA Basketball Team of the Year.

Jim Tooley, USA Basketball CEO, was in awe himself at what the USA Women’s Basketball team accomplished in Spain — given the roster wasn’t even finalized until two days before games began.

Breanna Stewart even managed to take home USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year honors this year, and she was one of the last to join the team due to Seattle’s extended season and ultimate WNBA Championship.

Oh, and she was named the USA tournament MVP as well.

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The 2018 squad had seven players with prior World Cup and/or Olympic experience, but also featured a total of five newcomers. Collectively, it was a dominant performance all around, despite a lot of last-minute scrambling and preparation.

"“We came together because we had the ‘next person up mentality,’” Stewart said. “There were some people who were on the Olympic Team who didn’t come to the World Cup this year, so there were new opportunities for younger players who didn’t have as much experience playing for USA Basketball, but they stepped right up.”"

While veterans like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi brought a plethora of experience and confidence to Team USA, young guns like A’ja Wilson, Jewell Lloyd and Stewart weren’t bothered by the big stage. Nobody played more minutes in the championship game against Australia, who was previously unbeaten, than Stewart.

Relying on youth? That’s exciting. Really, really exciting for USA Basketball and far beyond. Women’s basketball wouldn’t be much without the vets, but looking at moments like this (and box scores) remind us that the younger generation is well on their way to becoming all-time greats when all is said and done.

The future is bright.

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