Team USA Basketball training cap concluded with lots of positives for the WNA stars, especially for the young players who joined the senior camp for the first time. First timer, Angel Reese, mentioned that she wants to take things from people, highlighting her urge to learn from the best in the sport.
While her intentions and actions were right, Sue Bird, the team’s first-ever managing director, pinpointed one issue that can’t be taken from any athlete – the experience of playing in different countries.
Sue Bird Issues Warning To Team USA’s New Stars
The FIBA World Cup qualifiers are the next event on Team USA’s calendar, with the side choosing to go with the young, talented, and impactful stars in the games. This will not only give the players the experience they need for the even bigger games. Even though the players impressed on the floor, Sue Bird had one particular issue with the new players.
“What I’m noticing is a lot of these young players don’t go overseas, so they don’t have an understanding of what FIBA is like and what it’s like to play on this stage,” Bird said on her A Touch More podcast.
“Because these players don’t play overseas and don’t have that FIBA experience, it’s so important to somehow give them a taste. So, it was actually a really efficient camp, but the emphasis was the aggressiveness with which teams play,” Sue Bird added.
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Leagues like the Unrivalled and Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Basketball allow WNBA stars to play in the United States, in both 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 environments, which makes it challenging for young stars to have an overseas experience. But they certainly didn’t disappoint at the camp.
Team USA Young WNBA Stars Working Hard In Training Camp
The possible inclusion of players like Caitlin Clark, Cameron Brink, Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, and Angel Reese on the national team has already generated significant buzz among the WNA fan base. The young guns also delivered on the court in different scrimmages.
In one scrimmage where the new players took on the veterans, the rookies’ side emerged victorious in overtime, showcasing their competitive nature.
While Reese spoke about the meaning of the national camp selection for the young players, every member is giving more than 100% to make a case for themselves. It will be interesting to see how Team USA will shape up, but one thing is for sure: the team is in great hands at the moment.