Basketball World Cup: US likely to start with seven players
The United States could begin their bid to win a fourth straight women's basketball World Cup on Thursday with just seven players, but coach Cheryl Reeve is adamant they can cope.
Their 12-strong roster features five players who took part in the WNBA Finals and are currently making the long trek to Australia.
The coach said the quintet -- Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, A'ja Wilson, Brioona Jones and Alyssa Thomas -- would be allowed to recharge and acclimatise after the Las Vegas Aces sealed the WNBA Finals 3-1 against the Connecticut Sun on Monday.
"We're giving them the time that they need because they are making huge sacrifices to jump on a plane right after a gruelling series and a gruelling WNBA season," Reeve said.
The USA coach said they would be short-handed for their opener against Belgium on Thursday and possibly again on Friday against Puerto Rico.
"A full roster has been named but whether all the players will be present, that is not likely," said Reeve.
"It's a fluid process and for me as a coach when they show up for practice, then I know they're there.
"For now, we'll go with what we have and when some of those players start to come here, we'll be able to get them up to speed very quickly.
"I mean it'll be a factor, for sure, the short-term situation. You get through those games as best you can and then obviously they'll be able to feature a little bit more as the competition goes on."
The dominant Americans, gunning for an 11th title overall, are already without retired legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, while Brittney Griner continues to languish in a Russian jail.
But Breanna Stewart, Jewell Loyd, Kahleah Copper and Ariel Atkins all played in their Tokyo Olympic gold medal-winning side last year.
Stewart, the MVP at the last World Cup, is at her third consecutive World Cup, while Loyd, Plum and Wilson are playing their second after beating Australia to win gold in 2018. The rest are making their World Cup debuts.
"Whatever numbers we have, we'll go with it," said Stewart.
"We'll make sure our schemes are right, our scouting report is right, not look at the disadvantage," she said.
"We know we have reinforcements coming and we just need to hold it down till then."
-
How to trademark your TikTok phrase and protect your brandS. Korea begins review of Pfizer's oral COVIDHere are the machines members of congress used to impeach TrumpDunkin is finally tossing out styrofoam cups for goodValue Judgment“中华战舞”跳出国门!普宁英歌春节亮相伦敦21 cats that are really, really thicc社区牵头居民参与 共同打造文明院落Keurig K Mini deal — get $30 off at Target21 cats that are really, really thicc
- ·10 Big Misconceptions About Computer Hardware
- ·Naked man crashing school's video call is a privacy lesson for all
- ·绿美菜园,何以成为“爆款”
- ·Trump's ridiculous notes have spawned more Sharpie memes
- ·古物:回望时间的印记
- ·Moon wishes everyone a 'caring, hopeful' Christmas
- ·N. Korean workers return home from China by road for 1st time since pandemic
- ·Hulu's 'Everyone Is Doing Great' is a great pandemic binge: Interview
- ·Expanded police surveillance will get us “broken windows” on steroids.
- ·茂名121个!2023年“粤字号”农业品牌目录公布
- ·街头小广告屡禁不止 市民呼吁加强整改
- ·F1 boss sees ticket sale boost in Ferrari resurgence
- ·Top 10 Tech Pranks
- ·Apple's new iPad Pro is coming soon, but it might be hard to get one
- ·车辆占道停放、垃圾乱扔 老旧小区环境需提升
- ·150,000 handpainted hearts on memorial wall represent each life lost to COVID in the UK
- ·SCOTUS: The courts implementing Project 2025, without Trump.
- ·Apple is giving its digital assistant Siri a much
- ·喜讯!2023“粤字号”农业品牌目录公示,中山45个品牌入选
- ·Squatter kills landlord after discovery
- ·3D Game Rendering 101
- ·S. Korea deplores N. Korea's launch of nuclear attack submarine
- ·龙舟竞渡青衣江 精彩节目看不停
- ·Panel says late ex
- ·Microwave technique recovers 87% of batteries' lithium in 15 minutes
- ·N. Korea says it launched new 'tactical nuclear attack submarine'
- ·North Korea says it conducted important test to develop multiple warhead missile
- ·21 cats that are really, really thicc
- ·五大功效呵护健康!山茶油的营养价值非同一般
- ·N. Korea says it launched new 'tactical nuclear attack submarine'
- ·Garmin Fenix 8 vs. Apple Watch Ultra: The Fenix wins big on battery life
- ·Americans like the wall more than they like Trump.
- ·街头小广告屡禁不止 市民呼吁加强整改
- ·N. Korean leader Kim Jong
- ·50 Places to Eat and Drink Before You Die
- ·Becker to stand bankruptcy trial in London