LSU's Angel Reese to make Team USA debut, headlines 2023 Women’s AmeriCup Roster
In the six weeks since LSU won the national championship, star forward Angel Reese has been on a tear. In addition to her NIL valuation skyrocketing to an estimated $1.3 million, the forward was recently named to the Team USA roster for the 2023 FIBA Women’s AmeriCup.
The AmeriCup tournament is held every two years, featuring the top players from 10 different countries in North America, South America and the Caribbean. The United States won the most recent tournament in 2021, its fourth title in the event.
The 12-member roster is difficult to make, and Reese tried a few times. With some persistence, she made it happen. Now she has her sights set on winning gold, which Team USA claimed in 2019 and 2021.
U16 cut.
U18 finalist but cut (I WAS HURT)🥲
U19 declined invite to win EYBL championship.
U19 finalist but withdrew to focus on my health.
THIS WAS MY YEAR. U23 I MADE IT.
GOD DID.
NEVER GIVE UP ON THINGS YOU WANT IN LIFE.
TIME TO BRING HOME GOLD. 🏅🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ld9qYz3wIC— Angel Reese (@Reese10Angel) May 15, 2023
UCLA's Lauren Betts and Charisma Osborne, Tennessee's Rickea Jackson, South Carolina's Raven Johnson, USC's Rayah Marshall, Michigan's Laila Phelia and Wake Forest's Jewel Spear were also named to the Team USA roster. The roster isn’t final, as other players can still be invited to training camp as part of the selection process.
Aneesah Morrow, one of LSU's new transfers, is one of those finalists. Janiah Barker of Texas A&M, Illinois' Makira Cook, Columbia's Abbey Hsu and Oregon's Chance Gray join Morrow as finalists. They will all return to training camp in June and compete for one of the four remaining roster spots.
Hailey Van Lith, who transferred from Louisville in LSU's first blockbuster move, will also aim to represent Team USA in a different capacity. She was one of 18 athletes selected to participate in the 2023 USA 3×3 Women’s National Team trials that began May 12 at Colorado College. In 2019, Van Lith earned 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup MVP honors
The tournament will be held in León, Mexico. Team USA will play its first game July 1 against Venezuela. Then, they will face Argentina, Brazil and Cuba in group play. The quarterfinals will be held July 7, with the semifinals scheduled for July 8 and the finals slated for July 9.
