May 8, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky women’s basketball junior DeNesha Stallworth is one of 31 top student-athletes in the country who have accepted invitations to participate in the 2013 USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team trials. Trials will take place May 16-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo., and the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee issued the invitations.
Stallworth, a 6-foot-3 forward from Richmond, Calif., was a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection by the league coaches in her first season with the Wildcats. She played two seasons at the University of California-Berkeley before transferring to UK and had an immediate impact on the UK Hoops team in her debut season. She helped lead the Wildcats to a school-record 30 wins and their school-record fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament, including third Elite Eight appearance in the last four years. She ranked second on the team in scoring (12.5 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg), blocks (52), field goal percentage (48.4) and field goals made (181) and ranked in the top 20 in SEC in scoring (16th), rebounding (19th), field goal percentage (4th) and blocks (5th). Her nine double-doubles were a team high. She will head into her senior season with 1,366 career points (438 at UK) and 663 career rebounds (209 at UK).
“We’re fortunate that the World University Games age group allows for the development of our college-aged players and gives them an opportunity outside of the Olympics to gain international experience at the highest level,” said committee chair Jim Foster, who has been a member of nine different USA Basketball coaching staffs. “We feel that this is a good mix of players to build a team that will represent USA Basketball well in Russia,”
The 2013 World University Games (WUGs) women’s basketball competition will be held July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia. Organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) and held every other year, the WUGs is a multi-sport competition open to men and women who are between the ages of 17 and 24 (born 01/01/89 through 12/31/95). The USA Basketball women’s team will be comprised of U.S. citizens who are currently enrolled in college and have remaining eligibility.
“The trials roster boasts some incredible talent,” said Sherri Coale, USA and University of Oklahoma head coach. “The challenge for the committee will be selecting the players who fit together best.
“First and foremost, the players must understand what an honor it is to be invited to participate in the trials. With that honor comes the expectation that they will compete and work in a manner commiserate with the legacy of USA basketball. In a relatively short amount of time we hope to ascertain not only individual strengths but also collective strengths so that we might put together a team capable of winning in a variety of ways while also representing our country in the best possible manner.”
“The trials themselves will be designed to reveals skill sets, decision making ability, basketball acumen and, just as importantly, a willingness to learn and accept roles.”
Accepting invitations to participate in the trials were: Danielle Ballard (Louisiana State University/ Memphis, Tenn.); Rachel Banham (University of Minnesota/Lakeville, Minn.); Crystal Bradford (Central Michigan University/Detroit, Mich.); Gennifer Brandon (University of California/Sylmar, Calif.); Cierra Burdick (University of Tennessee/Charlotte, N.C.); Hallie Christofferson (Iowa State University/Hamlin, Iowa); Aaryn Ellenberg (University of Oklahoma/Las Vegas, Nev.); Morgan Eye (University of Missouri/ Montrose, Mo.); ReShanda Gray (University of California/Los Angeles, Calif.); Sara Hammond (University of Louisville/Mt. Vernon, Ky.); Cassie Harberts (University of Southern California/San Clemente, Calif.); Isabelle Harrison (University of Tennessee/Nashville, Tenn.); Bria Hartley (University of Connecticut/North Babylon, N.Y.); Jordan Hooper (University of Nebraska/Alliance, Neb.); Brittany Hrynko (DePaul University/Philadelphia, Pa.); Briahanna Jackson (UCF/Tampa, Fla.); Betnijah Laney (Rutgers University/Clayton, Del.); Jasmine Lister (Vanderbilt University/Corona, Calif.); Tricia Liston (Duke University/River Forest, Ill.); Maggie Lucas (Penn State University/Narberth, Pa.); Tyaunna Marshall (Georgia Tech University/Upper Marlboro, Md.); Ariel Massengale (University of Tennessee/Bolingbrook, Ill.); Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (University of Connecticut/Anaheim Hills, Calif.); Amber Orrange (Stanford University/Houston, Texas); Haley Peters (Duke University/Red Bank, N.J.); Theresa Plaisance (Louisiana State University/New Orleans, La.); Shoni Schimmel (University of Louisville/Mission, Ore.); Meighan Simmons (University of Tennessee/Cibolo, Texas); Odyssey Sims (Baylor University/Irving, Texas); Bria Smith (University of Louisville/Massapequa, N.Y.); and DeNesha Stallworth (University of Kentucky/Richmond, Calif.).
Assistant coaches for the team will be Brian Giorgis (Marist College) and Coquese Washington (Penn State University). Additionally, Matt Corkery (American University), Bobbie Kelsey (University of Wisconsin) and Matilda Mossman (University of Tulsa) will serve as court coaches during the trials.
Current collegiate athletes invited to participate in the 2013 USA U19 World Championship Team trials are eligible and may be considered for the 2013 USA World University Games Team. Trials for both teams will take place in staggered sessions May 16-19.
The WUGs trials begin on May 16 with the first session at 6:30-8:15 p.m., followed by trials sessions on May 17 and 18 at 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The 12-member roster is expected to be announced the morning of May 19, and all athletes will depart for home. The team will regroup for training June 25-July 1 at the USOTC prior to traveling to Russia.
The USA has been placed in Group B for the 2013 WUGs and will open at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) on July 8 against Belarus, followed by Czech Republic at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) on July 9 and its final preliminary-round opponent, Brazil, at 4:30 a.m. (EDT) on July 10. Following the preliminary round, the first and second placed teams in each of the four pools will advance to the medal quarterfinals to compete for 1st-8th places, while the remaining teams will compete for 9th-24th places. The quarterfinals will be played on July 12, with the semifinals on July 13 and the gold medal game on July 15.
Chaired by NCAA representative Jim Foster, the 2013-16 USA Basketball Women’s Junior National Team Committee includes NCAA appointees Melanie Balcomb (head coach, Vanderbilt University), Lindsay Gottlieb (head coach, University of California) and Joi Williams (head coach, UCF), as well as athlete representative Kara Lawson, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist who has played on nine USA Basketball teams.
World University Games
USA Basketball women’s teams have participated in 16 prior World University Games and have collected a record eight gold medals, six silvers and one bronze medal.
Since 1973, the first year the USA women competed in the WUGs, the United States has compiled a
95-15 record. In 2011 the USA, led by 2012 NCAA National Player of the Year nominees Elena Delle Donne, Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike and Baylor’s Simms, posted a 6-0 slate en route to the gold medal.
Also among the list of WUG alumni are 2012 Olympic gold medalists Seimone Augustus (2005), Tina Charles (2009), Sylvia Fowles (2005) and Maya Moore (2009); as well as Olympians Carol Blazejowski (1977, 1979), Ruthie Bolton (1991), Anne Donovan (1981), Pat Head Summitt (1973), Lisa Leslie (1991), Katrina McClain (1985), Suzie McConnell-Serio (1991), Ann Meyers Drysdale (1977), DeLisha Milton-Jones (1997), Cappie Pondexter (2005), Ruth Riley (1999), Katie Smith (1995), Dawn Staley (1991), Katy Steding (1991), Tina Thompson (1995), Kara Wolters (1995, 1997) and Lynette Woodward (1979).
USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international competitions, as well as for some national competitions.
During the 2009-12 quadrennium, 1273 men and women players and 235 coaches participated in USA Basketball, including the USA Basketball 3×3 FIBA championships, USA Basketball trials and USA teams.
Between 2009-12, USA Basketball men’s and women’s teams compiled an impressive 264-35 win-loss record in FIBA and FIBA Americas competitions, the Pan American Games, the World University Games, the Nike Hoop Summit and in exhibition games. USA teams are the current men’s and women’s champions in the Olympics; men’s and women’s FIBA World Championships; women’s FIBA U19 World Champions; men’s and women’s FIBA U17 World Champions; and the men’s and women’s U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships. USA Basketball also currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA’s world ranking categories, including combined, men’s, women’s, boys and girls.
For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official Web site of USA Basketball at usabasketball.com and connect with us on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball and www.youtube.com/therealusabasketball.
