PARIS (FIBA World Championship for Women) - With less than a week to go until the start of the FIBA World Championship for Women, defending champions USA have confirmed WNBA winners Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree have been added to the squad.

The addition of Taurasi and Dupree means head coach Geno Auriemma may now only have three further cuts to make as he also waits to see if Brittney Griner's eye injury is given the all-clear by the medical team so she can join the party in Europe at a later date.

If this did happen, it would take the roster up to sixteen names.

"Obviously you've got two players coming in that have a tremendous amount of confidence right now after the kind of season that they had and winning the WNBA Championship," said Auriemma as he welcomed the duo ahead of participation in an international tournament in Paris.

"You've got two of the best offensive players in the WNBA.

"Diana's had so much international experience at World Championships and Olympics, Candice was with us in the 2010 World Championship and played great.

"So, I think we have a great group and our group just got a lot better."

One of the biggest stars in the WNBA in Elena Delle Donne will not be given a major tournament debut for her country after being ruled out by an injury, along with center Sylvia Fowles.

The remaining candidates for the USA roster are : Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tina Charles (New York Liberty), Skylar Diggins (Tulsa Shock), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), Jantel Lavender (Los Angeles Sparks), Kayla McBride (San Antonio Stars), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Odyssey Sims (Tulsa Shock), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).

Auriemma has already confirmed that he plans to use the tournament in the French capital to help make his final choices next week.

USA will match up against fellow medal contenders Australia and France, as well as China who will be one of their Group D opponents in Istanbul.

The play-caller also has an opportunity for one final look at his team in Prague, just a few days before the FIBA World Championship for Women gets underway when his side faces Czech Republic in a repeat of the 2010 final.

FIBA