Dec. 14, 2017
NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee announced its 2017-20 pool on Thursday, and Irish alumnae Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd and Kayla McBride were each selected to the 29-player roster.
The pool consists of 11 Olympic champions, 12 FIBA World Cup gold medalists and 19 WNBA All-Stars–including Diggins-Smith (three times) and McBride. The trio of Notre Dame alumnae will try to make the roster for the first time in their respective careers.
It is expected that the official, 12-member 2018 USA World Cup and 2020 U.S. Olympic teams, should the USA qualify to compete in Tokyo, will be comprised of players from the 2017-20 USA National Team pool.
The pool of players will train at a minicamp on Feb. 9-11, 2018, at Carolina Coliseum.
Notre Dame’s Ruth Riley is the only player in program history to be chosen to compete with the United States at the Olympics, winning a gold medal in 2004.
Current Indiana Fever forward Natalie Achonwa is the only other Notre Dame player to compete at the Olympics, representing Canada in both 2016 and 2012.
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