USA National Team... The future.

[speedoo]

I'm sure others have been thinking about the fact that our National Team is getting older, and what that means for the future.

So I thought I would take a peek, first by listing the current 12 by age, approximately:

Catchings
Bird/Cash/Jones
DT
Whelan
Augustus
Fowles
Parker
Charles
Angel
Moore

(not sure that is 100% correct, but it's close enough for now)

Pretty sure this is the last go around for Catch, but between Maya and Angel, I think we are covered here. Same for Cash and Jones, and there are players like Nneka, Chiney and Allysa Thomas who should be ready to contribute very soon, to replace them and also backfill for Maya/Angel as one of them moves into the starting lineup.

What about guards? Sue, DT and Whelan have to be replaced eventually, maybe very soon in Sue's case. Diggins, Hartley and Sims certainly appear to have the skills to be their replacements, although I wonder if USA basketball will ever be able to replace Bird, DT and even Whelan, who has emerged as a really terrific guard. What about Vandersloot? I hope she continues to be under consideration.

Eventually, Fowles will be replaced, but clearly Griner will be expected to do that, and also join the post rotation very soon. Does Tina have to move to a forward spot to make room for Griner as one of the centers?

Augustus and Parker will have to be replaced. Does EDD come into the picture here? Breanna Stewart?

Just going through this exercise is a little reassuring that USA should be able to remain dominant.

Our 2020 National Team might look something like this:

Centers: Griner, Charles

Forwards: Moore, Nneka, Chiney, Thomas, Stewart, EDD/Angel

Guards: Diggins, Hartley, Sims, Vandersloot.

Not bad at all, IMO.

 

[OneTrickPony]

I'm sure others have been thinking about the fact that our National Team is getting older, and what that means for the future.

So I thought I would take a peek, first by listing the current 12 by age, approximately:

Catchings
Bird/Cash/Jones
DT
Whelan
Augustus
Fowles
Parker
Charles
Angel
Moore

(not sure that is 100% correct, but it's close enough for now)

Pretty sure this is the last go around for Catch, but between Maya and Angel, I think we are covered here. Same for Cash and Jones, and there are players like Nneka, Chiney and Allysa Thomas who should be ready to contribute very soon, to replace them and also backfill for Maya/Angel as one of them moves into the starting lineup.

What about guards? Sue, DT and Whelan have to be replaced eventually, maybe very soon in Sue's case. Diggins, Hartley and Sims certainly appear to have the skills to be their replacements, although I wonder if USA basketball will ever be able to replace Bird, DT and even Whelan, who has emerged as a really terrific guard. What about Vandersloot? I hope she continues to be under consideration.

Eventually, Fowles will be replaced, but clearly Griner will be expected to do that, and also join the post rotation very soon. Does Tina have to move to a forward spot to make room for Griner as one of the centers?

Augustus and Parker will have to be replaced. Does EDD come into the picture here? Breanna Stewart?

Just going through this exercise is a little reassuring that USA should be able to remain dominant.

Our 2020 National Team might look something like this:

Centers: Griner, Charles

Forwards: Moore, Nneka, Chiney, Thomas, Stewart, EDD/Angel

Guards: Diggins, Hartley, Sims, Vandersloot.

Not bad at all, IMO.

Wonder who the ones are that aren't on your radar, yet?

 

[EricLA]

I put a post out there a few weeks back but didn't get too many replies, but it was right around the time some people were going bonkers for Nneka. I was trying to discuss the 2014 WC team - I think Catch will still be around then, and she's "only" a year older than Sue, et al. so it's possible she would be around for the 2016 Olympics. Heck, if Taj can be a starter on the Lynx at over 40, Catch can certainly play on the US National team till she's good and ready to retire...

Pool from 2012:

Bird, Taurasi, Whalen, Harding, Lawson, Montgomery, Poindexter
Augustus, Cash, Brunson, Catchings, Dupree, Jones, McCoughtry, Moore, Parker, Young
Fowles, Charles, Appel, Griner

Catch is actually the oldest (a year older than Sue, Swin and Ashja), but i think all of them will be around in 2014. Looks like 20 or 21 players. Assuming a similar number, who would be in your pool?

Guards: Bird, Taurasi, Whalen, Harding, Lawson, Monty, Cappie, and maybe Simms, Diggins, Gray and Hartley. EDD? also maybe Vandersloot or Jasmine thomas? How about Tolliver or Prahalis? or even Epiph Prince?

Augustus, Cash, Brunson, Catch, Dupree, Jones, McCoughtry, Moore, Parker, Young and maybe Nneka and Chiney, and possibly Danielle Adams. Maybe even Bree Stewart?

Fowles, Charles, Griner, and maybe Langhorne? It seems the 5 is the position of the highest need and smallest number of talented players. Maybe Dolson is on the list? E Williams?

My preliminary WC team...

Bird, Whalen (best PG in the world, and it's hard to take Lindsay off the team at this point)
Taurasi, Augustus (best player in the world and Siemone is terrific)
Catchings, McCoughtry, EDD (great offense, defense, and a ball hog, in no particular order)
Parker, Moore (2 of the best and most versatile players out there)
Charles, Fowles, Griner (is there a better trio of centers in the world? they might be #'s 1,2 and 3)

i think that team would be probably better than the current Olympic team - no offense meant to Cash or Jones. I'd also give Young a real look as well as Jones and Cash. No idea how they will be doing in 2 years, and Cash is currently a team captain. With so many great players as potential "locks", there is hardly any room for newbies.

I think guards like 'sloot, Simms, Diggins, Gray and Hartley won't get a real shot until Bird and Taurasi are gone. and i can see them both around for the 2016 Olympics...

 

[cardfan]

I put a post out there a few weeks back but didn't get too many replies, but it was right around the time some people were going bonkers for Nneka. I was trying to discuss the 2014 WC team - I think Catch will still be around then, and she's "only" a year older than Sue, et al. so it's possible she would be around for the 2016 Olympics. Heck, if Taj can be a starter on the Lynx at over 40, Catch can certainly play on the US National team till she's good and ready to retire...

Pool from 2012:

Bird, Taurasi, Whalen, Harding, Lawson, Montgomery, Poindexter
Augustus, Cash, Brunson, Catchings, Dupree, Jones, McCoughtry, Moore, Parker, Young
Fowles, Charles, Appel, Griner

Catch is actually the oldest (a year older than Sue, Swin and Ashja), but i think all of them will be around in 2014. Looks like 20 or 21 players. Assuming a similar number, who would be in your pool?

Guards: Bird, Taurasi, Whalen, Harding, Lawson, Monty, Cappie, and maybe Simms, Diggins, Gray and Hartley. EDD? also maybe Vandersloot or Jasmine thomas? How about Tolliver or Prahalis? or even Epiph Prince?

Augustus, Cash, Brunson, Catch, Dupree, Jones, McCoughtry, Moore, Parker, Young and maybe Nneka, and Chiney, and possibly Danielle Adams. Maybe even Bree Stewart?

Fowles, Charles, Griner, and maybe Langhorne? It seems the 5 is the position of the highest need and smallest number of talented players. Maybe Dolson is on the list? E Williams?

My preliminary WC team...

Bird, Whalen (best PG in the world, and it's hard to take Lindsay off the team at this point)
Taurasi, Augustus (best player in the world and Siemone is terrific)
Catchings, McCoughtry, EDD (great offense, defense, and a ball hog, in no particular order)
Parker, Moore (2 of the best and most versatile players out there)
Charles, Fowles, Griner (is there a better trio of centers in the world? they might be #'s 1,2 and 3)

i think that team would be probably better than the current Olympic team - no offense meant to Cash or Jones. I'd also give Young a real look as well as Jones and Cash. No idea how they will be doing in 2 years, and Cash is currently a team captain. With so many great players as potential "locks", there is hardly any room for newbies.

I think guards like 'sloot, Simms, Diggins, Gray and Hartley won't get a real shot until Bird and Taurasi are gone. and i can see them both around for the 2016 Olympics...

maybe Nneka? Seriously?

 

[EricLA]

maybe Nneka? Seriously?

maybe Nneka AND Chiney, not "maybe Nneka in the pool". I probably should have said "Nneka and maybe Chiney". I'm not sure Chiney will be in the pool for 2014. so yeah, seriously.

In the future, asking a simple question usually works better than getting ur panties in a bunch and posting with such offended incredulity.

And yeah, I take EDD and Griner over Nneka on my team. NNeka may be better at 12' and in than EDD, but IMHO, she's a 4, not a 4/3, and when you add Griner, you can basically make her and Fowles the 5's, Parker and Charles the 4's, and since Parker is more versatile than Nneka, and 6'5" to boot, I don't see how Nneka makes that particular team.

She'd be my 13th player tho. And who knows - in 2 years when they are making the team, maybe they take Nneka over EDD. After all, they are both the same age and Nneka is by far the better athlete...

 

[cardfan]

maybe Nneka AND Chiney, not "maybe Nneka in the pool". I probably should have said "Nneka and maybe Chiney". I'm not sure Chiney will be in the pool for 2014. so yeah, seriously.

In the future, asking a simple question usually works better than getting ur panties in a bunch and posting with such offended incredulity.

And yeah, I take EDD and Griner over Nneka on my team. NNeka may be better at 12' and in than EDD, but IMHO, she's a 4, not a 4/3, and when you add Griner, you can basically make her and Fowles the 5's, Parker and Charles the 4's, and since Parker is more versatile than Nneka, and 6'5" to boot, I don't see how Nneka makes that particular team.

She'd be my 13th player tho. And who knows - in 2 years when they are making the team, maybe they take Nneka over EDD. After all, they are both the same age and Nneka is by far the better athlete...

thanks. My panties are fine. Sorry, I don't have the time to construct a question to your liking, I thought seriously with a question mark got to the pt. It's a message board after all, that would be my message to you if you were sitting next to me.

I'd take Nneka over EDD, she works harder, imho and is more athletic in the paint.

 

[HuskyNan]

I'm sure others have been thinking about the fact that our National Team is getting older, and what that means for the future. So I thought I would take a peek, first by listing the current 12 by age, approximately:

Catchings
Bird/Cash/Jones
DT
Whelan
Augustus
Fowles
Parker
Charles
Angel
Moore

(not sure that is 100% correct, but it's close enough for now)

I looked up birthdays, just for ha-has and this is the exact list:

Tamika Catchings 7/79
Swin Cash 9/79
Asjha Jones 8/80
Sue Bird 10/80
Lindsay Whalen 5/82
Diana Taurasi 6/82
Siemone Augustus 4/84
Sylvia Fowles 10/85
Candace Parker 4/86
Angel McCoughtry 9/86
Tina Charles 12/88
Maya Moore 6/89

You did a pretty good job!

 

[TheTruthBelow]

For 2014...

Guards under consideration: Bird, Taurasi, Whalen, Augustus, Pondexter, Toliver, Diggins, Robinson
Forwards: Parker, Moore, McCoughtry, Catchings, Dupree, Langhorne, Brunson, N.Ogwumike, Young
Centers: Fowles, Charles, Griner

Obviously you have to include Griner, but I have sincere doubts about her desire to play for the US considering all of the opportunities she has passed up.

 

[speedoo]

I looked up birthdays, just for ha-has and this is the exact list:

Tamika Catchings 7/79
Swin Cash 9/79
Asjha Jones 8/80
Sue Bird 10/80
Lindsay Whalen 5/82
Diana Taurasi 6/82
Siemone Augustus 4/84
Sylvia Fowles 10/85
Candace Parker 4/86
Angel McCoughtry 9/86
Tina Charles 12/88
Maya Moore 6/89

You did a pretty good job!

Thanks Nan, good stuff.
Biggest surprises: Angel and Parker about the same age, also Swin and Catch.

 

[ucdt3]

2016 USA Women's Olympic Team:
PG: Bird^, Whalen, (young PG* with strong defense/shooting abilities)
SG: Taurasi^, Augustus
SF: Moore, McCoughtry, (Delle Donne)
PF: Parker, Ogwumike, (Stewart)
C: Charles, Fowles, Griner

( ) - between these players for final spot.
^ - may retire from USAB, but doubt it, they both have at least 4 good years left if they remain healthy.
* - anyone of Hartley, Sims, Diggins, Jefferson could potentially be an option in 4 years.

 

[JoePgh]

So no one thinks that KML is potential Olympic/Team USA material?

I certainly wouldn't rule her out.

 

[Coler]

thanks. My panties are fine. Sorry, I don't have the time to construct a question to your liking, I thought seriously with a question mark got to the pt. It's a message board after all, that would be my message to you if you were sitting next to me.

I'd take Nneka over EDD, she works harder, imho and is more athletic in the paint.

Of course you'd take Nneka over Elena, you're not bias at all.

I'd take EDD over Nneka if it came down to it. But I don't see why both of them won't be on the 2016 team or even the 2014 WC team. Elena is 6'5, and I doubt any one could guard her straight up. I don't think the same could be said for Nneka. Yeah, Nneka can rebound better, and is more atheltic. But Elena makes up for that in height, and she's light years ahead of Nneka in the offense department imho.

 

[ucdt3]

So no one thinks that KML is potential Olympic/Team USA material?

I certainly wouldn't rule her out.

There's certainly no reason NOT to believe that if she continues to improve over the course of the next 3 years and then into the WNBA that she would be considered in the 2020 Olympics. However, I don't believe she will be considered for the 2016 Games, nothing against her...I love her shooting abilities, but with the current pool of players at SG/SF there is no real need for her until some of these players start retiring or leaving the USAB WNT for other reasons.

 

[TheTruthBelow]

So no one thinks that KML is potential Olympic/Team USA material?

I certainly wouldn't infer that. But people almost always jump the gun on these younger players. KML will not be in the discussion for the 2014 or 2016 teams (nor will Jefferson, who is a totally ridiculous suggestion).

 

[EricLA]

thanks. My panties are fine. Sorry, I don't have the time to construct a question to your liking, I thought seriously with a question mark got to the pt. It's a message board after all, that would be my message to you if you were sitting next to me.

I'd take Nneka over EDD, she works harder, imho and is more athletic in the paint.

Glad your panties are fine. In the future, you can lose the snark and chip on your shoulder with regards to Nneka. Or not, and people will continue to respond to you the way I did. If you want to have a discussion that's fine. If you want to post with your incredulous attitude, it will certainly make for different kinds of responses from the rest of us. Your choice.

 

[cardfan]

Glad your panties are fine. In the future, you can lose the snark and chip on your shoulder with regards to Nneka. Or not, and people will continue to respond to you the way I did. If you want to have a discussion that's fine. If you want to post with your incredulous attitude, it will certainly make for different kinds of responses from the rest of us. Your choice.

Eric, I find your tone quite condescending. I don't have a chip on my shoulder, or have to lose anything. Nneka was #1 pick and will be ROY, so the discussion about her being on the next USA team, four years away, is very relevant. And, there are many here who agree with me.

 

[Goodies07]

Eric, I find your tone quite condescending. I don't have a chip on my shoulder, or have to lose anything. Nneka was #1 pick and will be ROY, so the discussion about her being on the next USA team, four years away, is very relevant. And, there are many here who agree with me.

Did someone say it wasn't?

 

[cardfan]

Of course you'd take Nneka over Elena, you're not bias at all.

I'd take EDD over Nneka if it came down to it. But I don't see why both of them won't be on the 2016 team or even the 2014 WC team. Elena is 6'5, and I doubt any one could guard her straight up. I don't think the same could be said for Nneka. Yeah, Nneka can rebound better, and is more atheltic. But Elena makes up for that in height, and she's light years ahead of Nneka in the offense department imho.

Sure EDD is very talented, but she is not light years away from Nneka - who shoots 50% now. She cannot do what Nneka does in the paint. Height means nada, Nneka can out jump EDD, easily.

 

[ucdt3]

I certainly wouldn't infer that. But people almost always jump the gun on these younger players. KML will not be in the discussion for the 2014 or 2016 teams (nor will Jefferson, who is a totally ridiculous suggestion).

Why? Vandersloot was an option upon the completion of her All-American Senior Year at Gonzaga, so why is it ridiculous to think the same could go for Jefferson (who Geno, the Olympic Coach, btw, says is good enough to start at PG as a Freshman) if she produced similar or better results (i.e. - a NCAA Title). Team USA is always looking to bring in PGs. Montgomery was brought into the pool after graduating UConn, same with Harding and Robinson. Bird and Whalen are close in age (2 yrs) so they will both likely be done with Team USA around the same time frame, it isn't like when it was Staley and Bird when their age differed by an entire decade and Staley passed the PG torch to Bird for the next 2-3 Olympics. They WILL want someone very young to gain experience and lead the NEXT group of players for 2-3 Olympics. This is the PG spot we are talking about which is totally different than any other spot on the floor. They will likely do the same thing they did with Bird, bring the young PG along and just let her watch then take over at the WCs (which, btw, the US lost with Bird at the helm, for the first time w/out Staley, back in 2006 --although Bird had no true back-up PG only Katie Smith and Taurasi). Bird barely played at the 2002 Worlds as a WNBA rookie/2002 UConn grad then played only slightly more at the 2004 Athen games. (both instances behind both Staley and PeeWee Johnson, but at the same time, EVERYONE knew Bird was the air-apparent/torch recipient). So just to recap, it is NOT ridiculous to think any one of the quartet of Hartley, Sims, Diggins, and yes, even Mo Jefferson could be included in the discussion/pool especially since all 4 play for National Championship winning head coaches, are good defenders/shooters, and have been involved with USAB for a quite some time.

 

[EricLA]

Eric, I find your tone quite condescending. I don't have a chip on my shoulder, or have to lose anything. Nneka was #1 pick and will be ROY, so the discussion about her being on the next USA team, four years away, is very relevant. And, there are many here who agree with me.

Well I found your first post directed at me quite condescending. So knock it off and you won't see those kind of replies from me. As I said quite clearly, if you disagree or have an issue, question me. Don't post snark directed at me and not expect to get called out.

I have zero issue with anyone thinking Nneka deserves to be on one elite team or another. You want to discuss that all day long, fine. But you can leave your attitude at home when visiting our board.

 

[cardfan]

Well I found your first post directed at me quite condescending. So knock it off and you won't see those kind of replies from me. As I said quite clearly, if you disagree or have an issue, question me. Don't post snark directed at me and not expect to get called out.

I have zero issue with anyone thinking Nneka deserves to be on one elite team or another. You want to discuss that all day long, find. But you can leave your attitude at home when visiting our board.

well, I'm not the one with attitude.

 

[cardfan]

Of course you'd take Nneka over Elena, you're not bias at all.

I'd take EDD over Nneka if it came down to it. But I don't see why both of them won't be on the 2016 team or even the 2014 WC team. Elena is 6'5, and I doubt any one could guard her straight up. I don't think the same could be said for Nneka. Yeah, Nneka can rebound better, and is more atheltic. But Elena makes up for that in height, and she's light years ahead of Nneka in the offense department imho.

and to point DD made about motors, Nneka's doesn't quit and she'd beat EDD down the floor all the time.

 

[msf22b]

I think the kids will press the seniors hard in all positions and that there will be great surprises

 

[MilfordHusky]

Sure EDD is very talented, but she is not light years away from Nneka - who shoots 50% now. She cannot do what Nneka does in the paint. Height means nada, Nneka can out jump EDD, easily.

My friends in Southern California and Northern California are disagreeing.

I love Nneka. She is athletic and intelligent and plays hard. She came in with raw athleticism and has become a great player.

I really like Elena too. I think she has been at a disadvantage playing at Delaware rather than some place like UConn or Stanford. But she is a hard worker and has done extracurricular training on her own for 15+ years.

They are different. Elena is not as strong as I would like her to be (same for Candace Parker), but she is a superlative shooter and very skilled. If I need a foul shot made in crunch time, I want her shooting it over any other female I can think of, even Dee or Sue. Her 3-point shot on a balanced team is a very dangerous weapon, especially in international play. When Bill Fennelly coached Team USA last year, he said that Elena was the best player on the team--over Nneka, Chiney, Skylar, et al.

I disagree with CardFan on height meaning nothing. If height meant nothing, Baylor would not have been 40-0 and Griner would not have won the POY award. Look at the pic of the AAs last year. Elena is the only player remotely close to Griner in height. While she is not a great leaper--as Nneka is--she uses her length well on defense. She also has a high release on her shot.

I want both of them. If I had to choose, it would depend on need. Do I need interior athleticism, or do I need a shooter?

 

[MilfordHusky]

I think the kids will press the seniors hard in all positions and that there will be great surprises

At some point there will be a shift toward youth, most likely gradually. To me, Sue and Dee are the most irreplaceable. No one leads like Sue, and no one has the swagger of Diana.