2025 USA Women's AmeriCup Team

[GamecockFam]

Bigs: Beers, VanSlooten, Doogan, Edwards, Pierre
Guards: Booker, Johnson, Smith, Kneepkins, Richardson, Hidalgo, Miles

Just running through this mental exercise made me realize there are going to be lots of "big name" player cuts. Also there is a logjam of really good players at the 2/3. I really wanted to keep Blakes on my list but I think Lawson will choose Richardson over Blakes so that she has someone familiar with her system in the game.

Bookers and Edwards will be the most versatile players, which I think will give them a leg up. Booker can play PG if required and Edwards can flip between the 4 and 5. Beers is in a category of her own on this roster. I think Crooks will be her main competition and I don't see that being a contest.

I have to pat myself on the back because I correctly guessed 9 of the 12 (or 10 if you count Blakes since I wanted to choose her over Richardson but thought that Lawson would choose Richardson). I missed on Crooks, Stuelke, and Blakes by picking Richardson over Blakes and Doogan/Pierre over Crooks/Stuelke.

 

[WBBTakeover]

YES, JOYCE!!!!!

Not bad, not bad at all! I expected Beers, VanSlooten, and Crooks to make it because of the Betts-sized hole in the roster. Still expect them to get destroyed by Kamilla (Cardoso) and Damiris (Dantas)

O-Miles AND Hannah back together again! Should be...interesting.

Stuelke over Pierre is...interesting. What am I missing?

 

[JellyBean]

I have to pat myself on the back because I correctly guessed 9 of the 12 (or 10 if you count Blakes since I wanted to choose her over Richardson but thought that Lawson would choose Richardson). I missed on Crooks, Stuelke, and Blakes by picking Richardson over Blakes and Doogan/Pierre over Crooks/Stuelke.

Good call.

 

[BigTenGuy]

Stuelke seems like the only real surprise IMO. They took the four players listed 6’3” and up, which makes sense. Stuelke is likely the fastest of the 4/5s, perhaps a designated part-time rim runner? Thought Addy Brown might make it. She’s an unusually versatile forward.

 

[Vowelguy]

5 SEC
4 B1G
2 B12
1 ACC

 

[jdote33]

Really interesting squad. I look forward to watching and seeing who plays. I do think they will be challenged. Any guesses on starting lineups.

My guess
Cooks
Joyce
Booker
Miles
Hidalgo

 

[Reypl21]

Really interesting squad. I look forward to watching and seeing who plays. I do think they will be challenged. Any guesses on starting lineups.

My guess
Cooks
Joyce
Booker
Miles
Hidalgo

Beers instead of Crooks. And maybe Johnson instead of one of Miles or Hidalgo.

 

[Stagnant]

I didn’t expect stuelke to make the team. Verhulst missing surprises me. And Cambridge may have fallen victim to a crowded point guard group.

 

[CAbballfan2]

Beers instead of Crooks. And maybe Johnson instead of one of Miles or Hidalgo.

I agree.
I would say Beers instead of Crooks too. But I also think the starter in that position may be dependent on the opponent.

Because of Kara’s defensive mindset, I think Hidalgo definitely starts. I think the toss will be between Miles and Johnson.

 

[Ladeeeeda]

Really interesting squad. I look forward to watching and seeing who plays. I do think they will be challenged. Any guesses on starting lineups.

My guess
Cooks
Joyce
Booker
Miles
Hidalgo

Beers
Edwards
Booker
(Whoever plays defense) Leaning towards Flau'jae or Blakes
Hidalgo

 

[Vowelguy]

Hidalgo and Miles together? Not the slightest bit of a tension there?

 

[cancontent]

Hidalgo and Miles together? Not the slightest bit of a tension there?

The stories about tension seem to be overblown in my opinion. And even if there is, they can be professional enough to conduct themselves accordingly. Not to mention I doubt Lawson would tolerate it if that had been a concern.

 

[Stagnant]

I like Kneepkens as a starter. I think you want a sniper/3 point specialist in your starting 5.

Hidalgo
Kneepkens
Johnson
Edwards
Beers

That’s probably the 5 I would roll with.

 

[Vowelguy]

The stories about tension seem to be overblown in my opinion. And even if there is, they can be professional enough to conduct themselves accordingly. Not to mention I doubt Lawson would tolerate it if that had been a concern.

Chemistry matters. How else do you explain NDs late season and tournament flameout?

 

[cancontent]

Chemistry matters. How else do you explain NDs late season and tournament flameout?

Yes it does, but this is a different team altogether with a different coaching staff. Obviously they see it differently than you do regarding what happened at ND. Again, I can't see Lawson or Bird being willing to have them both on the squad if that was a concern.

 

[cancontent]

Starters vs Chile:

Hildago
Blakes
Booker
Edwards
Van Slooten

Don't think anyone expected Van Slooten as a starter. Will be interesting to see if this continues for the tournament.

 

[GamecockFam]

Starters vs Chile:

Hildago
Blakes
Booker
Edwards
Van Slooten

Don't think anyone expected Van Slooten as a starter. Will be interesting to see if this continues for the tournament.

Are you watching the game too? I thought F. Johnson started and Blakes was coming off the bench. I'm watching on my phone so it was hard to tell.

 

[GamecockFam]

I thought USAs best lineup in the first half was Miles, F. Johnson, Kneepkins, Edwards, Crooks

 

[cancontent]

Are you watching the game too? I thought F. Johnson started and Blakes was coming off the bench. I'm watching on my phone so it was hard to tell.

No. Tracking the box score. Typically FIBA lists starters with an asterisk, which is what I based my post on.

 

[GamecockFam]

No. Tracking the box score. Typically FIBA lists starters with an asterisk, which is what I based my post on.

It think you wer right. It was a bit if a boring game. Chile kept it close for the first 8 minutes but USA started to pull away and never looked back.

 

[cancontent]

It think you wer right. It was a bit if a boring game. Chile kept it close for the first 8 minutes but USA started to pull away and never looked back.

Hedged my bets and opted to watch the Mystics-Wings game because I thought it would be a blow out. Will likely take this approach with the US squad until the knock-out round.

Canada had an easy time of it as well, but they're a team I'll definitely watch to see because this team and its philosophy has changed drastically since the Olympics. A lot of new faces with the Senior team for the first time, including Day-Wilson, Gibb (BYU), Russell (Louisville), Wallack (Washington State), and Becker (Utah/Wake Forest). Canada Basketball also parted ways with LaPena, their previous coach and hired Nel Fortner.

At first glance, the offensive flow was a lot better compared to the Paris squad. Fortner had them moving the ball a lot better than her predecessor. Swords and Gibb seemed unaffected by the travel, considering they were late additions due to injuries. The veteran of the squad, Kayla Alexander, was tough in the post which bodes well for the tournament. Kyei and Potter have size, but not the agility which can get them in trouble. Their match up against Brazil is going to be an interesting one.

 

[GamecockFam]

Hedged my bets and opted to watch the Mystics-Wings game because I thought it would be a blow out. Will likely take this approach with the US squad until the knock-out round.

Canada had an easy time of it as well, but they're a team I'll definitely watch to see because this team and its philosophy has changed drastically since the Olympics. A lot of new faces with the Senior team for the first time, including Day-Wilson, Gibb (BYU), Russell (Louisville), Wallack (Washington State), and Becker (Utah/Wake Forest). Canada Basketball also parted ways with LaPena, their previous coach and hired Nel Fortner.

At first glance, the offensive flow was a lot better compared to the Paris squad. Fortner had them moving the ball a lot better than her predecessor. Swords and Gibb seemed unaffected by the travel, considering they were late additions due to injuries. The veteran of the squad, Kayla Alexander, was tough in the post which bodes well for the tournament. Kyei and Potter have size, but not the agility which can get them in trouble. Their match up against Brazil is going to be an interesting one.

I'm not saying this as a Gamecock fan, but Joyce Edwards was the shining star on the USA squad. 19 points in a little under 15 minutes on 7/12 shooting. She is the reason that the USA started to pull away. She was also 1-1 from the 3 point line. After watching this and her performance in the 3x3, I expect her to shoot the 3 a lot more next season. It looks very natural.

Beers scored the most points with 22. There were lots of different lineups and I can tell the coaches were experimenting. I think the best lineup was Miles, Blakes, Kneepkins, Edwards, and Beers. I think that was the squad that started the third quarter.

I had mixed feelings about Hidalgo, F. Johnson and Booker. All three were trying too hard to create their own shot instead of working in the flow of the offense, which usually resulted in a bad midrange shot.

I also found it interesting that Hidalgo and Miles were never on the court at the same time.

 

[CAbballfan2]

I'm not saying this as a Gamecock fan, but Joyce Edwards was the shining star on the USA squad. 19 points in a little under 15 minutes on 7/12 shooting. She is the reason that the USA started to pull away. She was also 1-1 from the 3 point line. After watching this and her performance in the 3x3, I expect her to shoot the 3 a lot more next season. It looks very natural.

Beers scored the most points with 22. There were lots of different lineups and I can tell the coaches were experimenting. I think the best lineup was Miles, Blakes, Kneepkins, Edwards, and Beers. I think that was the squad that started the third quarter.

I had mixed feelings about Hidalgo, F. Johnson and Booker. All three were trying too hard to create their own shot instead of working in the flow of the offense, which usually resulted in a bad midrange shot.

I also found it interesting that Hidalgo and Miles were never on the court at the same time.

I would bet Kara experimented with Hidalgo and Miles on the court together in practices and maybe, just maybe, it didn’t work out lol

She has more than enough talent to not have to play them together.

 

[jdote33]

Kneepkens reminds me of Citron at least in the half court. I think the big difference between them is defensively, and also I think Citron is a tad quicker. But it was fun watching Kneepkens play. I was being a bit of a hater to myself and saying I can't believe UCLA is adding her.
I thought Edwards played well. She's kinda just different. She always stands out in international play.
But the person I thought looked really good is Reagan Beers. It's cool, that she gets to play on a team like this heading into her senior year. She hit a three but she also took a fadeaway shot that looked pretty smooth but missed. I just thought she moved real well and those r the types of things she's going to have to do to have a shot at the w. She's a bit undersized and not a leaper but nevertheless I'm pulling for her.
Miles was miles. Hannah was Hannah. I thought she overdribbled and forced some shots but she did a lot of good things as well.

 

[YoDore]