USA Women's National Team set to kick off fall training

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.  --  The USA Basketball Women's National Team will begin training for the 2010 FIBA World Championship with a six-day training camp in Washington, D.C. Additionally, former University of Connecticut standout Renee Montgomery of the Minnesota Lynx has been added to the 2009 USA National Team's fall training camp roster. In all, 19 athletes, including six Olympic gold medalists and five members of the 2009-12 USA Basketball Women's National Team, will be attending the training camp.

Montgomery was a member of the 2006 USA Basketball U20 National Team that recorded a perfect 5-0 mark to capture gold at the 2006 FIBA Americas U20 Championship for Women in Mexico City, Mexico. Montgomery averaged 6.8 ppg., while dishing a team-leading 2.2 apg., as the U.S. qualified for the 2007 FIBA U21 World Championship. In 2008-09 Montgomery helped lead UConn to the 2009 NCAA crown with a perfect 39-0 slate. She was selected No. 4 overall by the Lynx in the 2009 draft, averaged 9.0 ppg. and 2.1 apg. during her rookie campaign and will head to Europe to play in Lithuania this winter.

During the Sept. 30 - Oct. 5 training camp, the USA National Team will sign autographs at the Washington Nationals final home game of the season; visit wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Clinic; and host an open practice for members of the military and their families, followed by a clinic for children whose parents are in the military. The USA's training camp will be highlighted by the 2009 USA Basketball National Team Fall Showcase at 12:00 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, Oct. 4. The USA Fall Showcase will include team drills, an intrasquad scrimmage, a question and answer session with Auriemma and a post-practice autograph session with selected players.

Tickets for the USA Basketball Women's National Team 2009 Fall Showcase are $5.00 and available by calling 202-885-TIXX or online at www.AUeagles.com. Children age six and under will be admitted free of charge.

Two-time Olympic gold medalists Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury); as well as '08 gold medalists Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) and Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury) were named to the 2009-12 USA Basketball Women's National Team on Aug. 17.

Named to the USA training camp roster on Sept. 22 were: Jayne Appel (Stanford / Pleasant Hill, Calif.); Alana Beard (Washington Mystics); Swin Cash (Seattle Storm); Tina Charles (Connecticut / Jamaica, N.Y.); Shameka Christon (New York Liberty); Candice Dupree (Chicago Sky); Lindsey Harding (Washington Mystics); Ebony Hoffman (Indiana Fever); Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun); Crystal Langhorne (Washington Mystics); Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream); Maya Moore (Connecticut / Lawrenceville, Ga.); Lindsay Whalen (Connecticut Sun); and Candice Wiggins (Minnesota Lynx).

Appel, Augustus, Beard, Lawson and Whalen are injured, however, they are expected to attend the training camp. Catchings, Hoffman, Pondexter and Taurasi are competing in the WNBA Finals and will not attend training camp.

2009-12 USA Basketball Women's National Team and University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma is heading up the USA team. Auriemma will be assisted through the 2010 FIBA World Championship by DePaul University head coach Doug Bruno and Minnesota Lynx head coach Jennifer Gillom.

The U.S. will hold practices at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) at American University's Bender Arena on Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 2 and 5. The USA will hold its open practice for members of the military and their families at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) on Oct. 3 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Wagner Gym. USA team practices are open to credentialed personnel only.