Cash, Smith, Braxton to Train with USA Basketball
February 28, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Detroit Shock News Release
Auburn Hills, MI - WNBA All-Star's Swin Cash and Katie Smith will be joined by Shock teammate Kara Braxton this week as the trio takes part in the first of three training sessions for the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team as it prepares for the 2006 FIBA World Championship.
The first session, to be held March 2-9, will include three games in Hungary and Poland. The second training session will be held March 17-24 and will feature three games in France and Hungary. In the USA's third and final training camp prior to the start of the 2006 WNBA Season, the U.S. will train in Boston during the NCAA Women's Final Four March 31-April 3 before competing in the Australian-hosted Opals World Challenge, April 7-12, against national teams from Australia, China and Chinese Taipei.
The USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team Committee, chaired by Reneé Brown, the WNBA's chief of basketball operations and player relations, will invite a select number of elite players to participate in the different camps of the 2006 spring training. The spring training will give the coaching staff and USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team Committee a chance to evaluate a variety of candidates competing for the 12 roster positions on the 2006 USA World Championship Team. The Committee will also use a portion of the WNBA season to further evaluate players.
Following the 2006 WNBA Season the USA will regroup in late August for a final training camp before defending its World Championship title at the 15th FIBA World Championship, scheduled to be played Sept. 12-23 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Seattle Storm's Anne Donovan is the head coach of the Women's Senior National Team and will be assisted at the 2006 FIBA World Championship by WNBA Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault, and collegiate head coaches Gail Goestenkors of Duke University and Dawn Staley of Temple University.
European Tour #1
Opening its training March 2-5 in Sopron, Hungary, the USA will play its first game against MKB Euroleasing Sopron on March 6. The USA's final two games will be played in Gdynia, Poland, against Lotos Gdynia on March 8 and March 9.
European Tour #2
Following a March 17-19 training camp in Mondeville, France, the U.S. will play USO Mondeville Basket on March 20.Next up on the schedule is a game against a Hungarian All-Star Team on March 22 in Gyor. Following another day of practice, the USA concludes its second European training session with a contest against MiZo-Pécs on March 24 in Pécs, Hungary.
Opals World Challenge
Training March 31 - April 4 in Boston, the Americans will take on Australia, China and Chinese Taipei in the 2006 Opals World Challenge. Featuring 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Australia and 2005 Asia Championship gold medalist China and bronze medalist Chinese Taipei, the games will be played April 7-12 with the sites and schedule still to be announced by Basketball Australia.
2006 USA National Team Training & Competition Schedule
European Tour I
March 2-5 Training Camp Sopron, Hungary
March 6 USA vs. Sopron Sopron, Hungary
March 7 Training Camp Gdynia, Poland
March 8 USA vs. Lotos Gdynia, Poland
March 9 USA vs. Lotos Gdynia, Poland
European Tour II
March 17-19 Training Camp Mondeville, France
March 20 USA vs. Mondeville Mondeville, France
March 21 Training Camp Gyor, Hungary
March 22 USA vs. Hungary Gyor, Hungary
March 23 Training Camp Pecs, Hungary
March 24 USA vs. Pecs Pecs, Hungary
Opals World Challenge
Mar. 31-Apr. 4 Training Camp Boston, Mass.
April 5-6 Training Camp TBD, Australia
April 7-12 Games TBD TBD, Australia
Australia, China, Chinese Taipei
FIBA World Championship
Aug. 28-Sept. 9 Training Camp TBD
Sept. 10-11 Training Camp Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sept. 12 USA vs. China Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sept. 13 USA vs. Nigeria Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sept. 14 USA vs. Russia Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sept. 16-18 Second Round Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sept. 20 Quarterfinals Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sept. 22 Semifinals Sao Paulo, Brazil
Sept. 23 Finals Sao Paulo, Brazil
The Detroit Shock open the 2006 WNBA Season at Indiana on May 20 at 7 p.m. The Shock home opener is scheduled for May 24 vs. the Minnesota Lynx at 7:30 p.m. Season tickets are available by calling (248) 377-0100 or by logging on to www.detroitshock.com. For additional information about USA Basketball, please visit
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from February 28, 2006
- Silver Stars guard Edna Campbell announces retirement - San Antonio Stars
- Cash, Smith, Braxton to Train with USA Basketball - Detroit Shock
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