Interesting list - and I do not see both Whalen and Bird making the 2016 team unless no one else steps up - they will be 34 and 36 respectively so neither likely to be around for 2020 - add in DT at 34 as well and you are looking at a guard group with only one 2020 Olympian - not something that USA basketball likely wants.
Doubt it - why play for a team that will not be competitive and lose your chance to play for your own country. Both sisters should get serious consideration going forward and Nneka is a likely addition for 2014 or 2016.
I have included KML in those getting a look and I am sure she will, but it is hard to project any college player onto a team where she will be competing with players that have years of pro and international experience. Same reason I am cautious about Sims and Hartley - one only need look at the '3 to see' from last year to realize that Diggins transition to the pros has not been particularly noteworthy after some serious national hype and a great college career. Specific to KML she will be competing with Catchings, Moore, Augustus, and Angel (though maybe not Catchings by 2016) from the current team and a number of other players who will have more pro experience for the Olympic team. So I do not think she is a slam dunk inclusion.
I am down with KML being a great player in college and she has developed into a very good all around player. I am also sure that Maya, Augustus, Catch, and Angel were not only GREAT college players, but have also already proved to be GREAT WNBA players and GREAT international and National team players and while Catch may choose not to participate in 2016 I am not counting her out nor do I think KML has done anything yet to displace any of the other 3. I also think there will be looks at Chiney in that role as well as maybe Thomas and a few others. So yes, I say she will get a look, but I am not ready to say that she has a place reserved for her on that Olympic team.
Excellent post icebear. I could not agree with you more. Like you said in three seasons and we had players like DT, Maya, and Ann Strother who played pretty much 4 complete seasons. KML will be a player to keep an eye on.
Except maybe Breanna? She just came close to 60% in an international competition if I remember.
60% over short stretches is not uncommon but 46-50% for 3/4 seasons is exceedingly rare. Breanna shot .333 on the season on 88 shots. KML shot .492 for 118 made of 254 shots. KML made more 3s than Breanna took and at a higher rate. KML's shooting is simply unparalleled in UCONN history. As a fresh KML shot .384 while making 98, again more than Breanna tried.Except maybe Breanna? She just came close to 60% in an international competition if I remember.
Totally agree with all the KML praise - and I agree with the part I highlighted which is all I am saying.
Just another point - USA basketball wants loyalty from their players and in return they also show loyalty to them - I think one of the hardest decisions this past Olympics was to pass over Kara Lawson after she had been a stalwart of USA basketball teams for years. I think if Catchings wants to be on the Olympic team and is still playing well in 2016 they will have to be blown away by someone else before they would not name her to the team. (Same with Sue, by the way.) And I was very impressed with Kara handling the disappointment of not being included on the team, but then I have been impressed with her since she first came on the scene (even if I hated her uniform back in those days.)
