COLORADO SPRINGS - USA Basketball have placed their faith in Dori Oldaker to continue their dominance of the FIBA U17 Women's World Championship.

The holders have won the first three editions of the event and will head to this year's event (22 June-2 July) searching for a fourth consecutive title - although their usual status as favourites could be under threat. That's because Oldaker presided over her country's unprecedented failure to capture the FIBA Americas U16 Women's Championship title last year, as their winning run came to an abrupt halt when they were famously beaten 72-63 by Brazil in the Semi-Finals.

The third step of the podium is wholly unfamiliar territory and therefore expectations will be for Oldaker and her assistant coaches Dianna Lewis and Samantha Quigley to make amends by ensuring the USA climb to the summit by the time the curtain falls this time around.

"I'm very grateful to have this opportunity to coach this USA Basketball U17 Women's World Championship team," Oldaker said after her appointment. "I'm very humbled by it, and I'm excited, too, to give my best effort.

"I really felt like we worked well together as a coaching staff."

Carol Callan, USA Basketball women's national team director and chair of the USA Basketball Women's Developmental National Team Committee, gave her backing to the trio.

"We are pleased to have Dori, Dianne and Sam back to lead the team," she said. "This group not only brings varied experience as coaches, but they also have an understanding of international basketball and of how challenging the competition at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship will be."

In addition to her experience as head coach of the 2015 USA Women's U16 National Team, Oldaker helped the USA to a gold medal and a 13-0 record as head coach of the 2014 U.S. Youth Olympic Games Women's 3x3 side.

FIBA