—National Team to train from Feb. 21-23 at the University of Connecticut–

2016 U.S. National Team Training Camp Roster

ATLANTA (Feb. 11, 2016) — Atlanta Dream standout Angel McCoughtry will be among the 16 finalists participating in the USA Basketball Women’s National Team training camp at the University of Connecticut from Feb. 21-23.

The minicamp, which is expected to be the final training session before the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team is selected, is slated to feature 16 Olympic team finalists, including 10 who have captured a combined 32 Olympic and FIBA World Championship gold medals.

McCoughtry was a member of the 2012 gold-medal winning U.S. Olympic squad as well as a member of the 2010 and 2014 U.S. FIBA World Championship Team, each of which also captured gold.  During the 2012 London Games, McCoughtry averaged 10.9 points and a tournament second-best 2.5 steals per game.  She led all competitors in the 12-team tournament in field goal percentage (.620, 31-50).

“Because of the different schedules our player and coaches work under, we don’t have a lot of time to be together, so this three-day training camp becomes a vital part in our preparations,” said USA and Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma, who has directed the USA National Team to an overall 23-0 record and gold medals at the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Championships.

“This is a good opportunity to train and help us prepare for Rio. It gives us a chance to take a look at some of the returning players that didn’t take the trip to Europe last fall and to continue to look at positions for the future. It gives the committee an opportunity to see where everyone is physically and how they fit in.”

Other finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team who are expected to participate in the training camp include: Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Elena Delle Donne (Chicago Sky), Stefanie Dolson (Washington Mystics), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Kayla McBride (San Antonio Stars), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Nnemkadi Ogwumike (Los Angeles Sparks), Danielle Robinson (San Antonio Stars), Breanna Stewart (University of Connecticut), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago Sky) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).

Training sessions, which last approximately two hours, will be held at the University of Connecticut’s Werth Family UConn Basketball Champions Center in Storrs. Credentialed media will be allowed access to approximately the final half-hour of practice, and athletes and coaches will be available to the media immediately following practice each day.

Auriemma will be assisted through the 2016 Olympic Games by DePaul University’s Doug Bruno, the Minnesota Lynx’ Cheryl Reeve and University of South Carolina’s Dawn Staley.

University of Connecticut associate head coach Chris Dailey, University of Hartford head coach Jennifer Rizzotti and WNBA Dallas Wings head coach Fred Williams will serve as court coaches during the three-day training camp.

The 2016 Olympic Games will be held Aug. 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro. A total of 12 nations will compete in the Olympic women’s basketball competition, including host Brazil and the USA, which earned its berth by virtue of claiming the gold medal at the 2014 FIBA World Championship.

With five-straight gold medals, the U.S. owns the longest Olympic gold medal streak ever recorded for a women’s traditional team sport. Canada (ice hockey) and Russia (synchronized swimming) have each strung together four consecutive gold medals. The only other nations’ teams to surpass five in a row are India (men’s field hockey) with six and the USA (men’s basketball) with seven.

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The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream is entering its ninth season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).

The Dream plays their home games at Philips Arena.  Atlanta has qualified for the playoffs six times, winning conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010.