One newcomer to FIBA competition and three familiar faces round out Team USA’s roster for the games.
Team USA announced on Monday that Paige Bueckers, Napheesa Collier, Ruthy Hebard and Jackie Young will represent the United States at the inaugural FIBA World Beach Games 3×3 women’s basketball competition.
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The competition takes place in Doha, Qatar, with Team USA kicking off group play against the Dominican Republic on October 13. The six-day competition also includes 12 other sports and 14 disciplines.
Bueckers has already helped Team USA win four gold medals and is the youngest member of the roster. A high school senior, she committed to the University of Connecticut in April as the top recruit in the 2020 class.
Collier, the 2019 WNBA Rookie of the Year, will look to add to her gold medals from the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, the 2014 Youth Olympic Games 3×3 basketball competition and the 2015 FIBA U19 World Cup. Collier helped lead the Minnesota Lynx to a playoff berth as this year’s sixth pick, averaging 13 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.
University of Oregon forward Hebard won a gold medal in the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, as well as a silver at the 2018 FIBA U19 World Cup. The 6’4 Alaska native is a likely first round pick in the 2020 WNBA Draft and will try to push the Ducks to a National Championship this season after falling short in last year’s Final Four.
Young will make her FIBA debut at the competition after taking part in USA Basketball Women’s U23 National Team training camp in 2017. The decorated Notre Dame alum averaged 6.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists after being selected with the first pick in this year’s draft by the Las Vegas Aces.
After Team USA’s game against the Dominican Republic, they will square off against Jordan later that same afternoon, followed by a bout with Russia on October 15.
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