USA streets ahead, but is a backcourt road block lying in wait?
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – The sheer quality, depth and level of talent amongst the USA senior national team remains jaw-dropping and so much was evident at the recent Olympic Games in Rio.
It has led many to questioning whether USA don’t just have the best team, but whether any non-USA players would be good enough to break into a USA tournament twelve at the moment? It’s a tough one, I have to confess. Even just thinking about it leaves you going back to the same point – USA Basketball are simply astonishing. The levels their players are operating at are just so far in front of all other contenders. I guess it boils down to a similar question of who are the best non-USA players in the WNBA?
Although perhaps rather ironically, Alba Torrens of Spain would be the prime candidate to push for a spot on any USA roster – even though she has still never played in the States; something which I have written about many times in the past. She certainly has the dynamic appeal of being multi-talented, breath-taking in the open court and brings so much to both club and country.
The only other serious contender based on Rio 2016 would probably be Elizabeth Cambage, since the sheer size and impact the center has on games would be worthy of consideration. In years gone by, there was of course Lauren Jackson, an Opals legend who would have to be in any USA line-up when she was in her prime. Penny Taylor would have been in the shake-up too. Right now though, I don’t see anyone outside of Torrens or Cambage. Many would get close such as Sandrine Gruda for example.
This is when you then get to the thorny question and most pertinent which was dropped to me on twitter by @mikeflynn826 that things get really interesting. Who are you going to cut from the current crop of USA stars?
@cterrier100 @basketmedia365 @FIBA Torrens def but who do you cut? The cuts are the issues. Look at the Parker debate If she can't? Who can?
— Mike Flynn (@MikeFlynn826) September 4, 2016
It’s a great point because [in this scenario as Geno Auriemma] you have to think that if you are saying Torrens and Cambage are good enough – at the expense of who? We have to remember it was a USA team without the likes of Candace Parker on board.
It’s an interesting debate to have, although critically my headline question is perhaps superseded by two more even more fascinating considerations. Firstly, which non-American could possibly lay claim to being good enough to make a USA 12 in the future?
Olympic gold for the homie @bre_stewart30! 💁🏽💕💙🐾Unreal! So happy for you!! #rio2016 pic.twitter.com/E10cR5n5eS
— Kia Nurse (@KayNurse11) August 20, 2016
I would say Kia Nurse could get close relatively quickly. The Canadian playmaker is outstanding as we all know and when firing at full tilt, she is hard to live with and has so many smarts. Longer term, we will see how Russian duo Maria Vadeeva and Raisa Musina develop, but those two are seriously talented and now everyone knows Emma Meesseman is a class act, but not amongst the very best just yet. It’s a moving feast.
Secondly [and this is the crunch], there seems to be a significant irony in asking which non-US players could make a USA roster, because the biggest talking point is probably which [new] USA players are good enough to continue the tradition and dominance of their country during the next two Olympic cycles? With bonafide legends like Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi now international toast, can USA actually replace these players effectively?
Sure, Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner for example will confirm that USA have the best players in the women’s game and should keep collecting golds, but the backcourt in particular does fascinate me heading into the medium to longer term.
@MikeFlynn826 @basketmedia365 @FIBA Hard to say who the USA Guards will be for 2020, never mind 2018 World Championships
— Dave (@cterrier100) September 4, 2016
I feel USA have the wings and frontcourt stitched up for a long time to come, but when it comes to the guard spots, I am scratching my head a little more – at least based on what I have seen at global youth tournaments in the last 5-6 years [or maybe I have just not seen the absolute best guards the USA have to offer]. That is why I feel USA would kill for a Kia Nurse for Tokyo 2020 and the FIBA Women’s World Cup either side of that.
Cue your chance to now tell me who will be in the USA backcourt in 2024 and if it might be an issue – maybe even a roadblock of sorts. You can also let me know who I missed, in terms of non-US players good enough to get into that Rio 2016 gold medal winning team.
Paul Nilsen
FIBA
FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.
FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.
