USA Basketball won the FIBA Americas Under-18 women’s championship for the seventh consecutive time on Sunday, trouncing Canada 104-74 in Colorado Springs.
South Carolina signee A’ja Wilson, who was named the tournament MVP, scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the final, as the Americans went 5-0.
The USA also qualifies for next summer’s FIBA Under-19 women’s world championships in Russia. Also representing the Americas will be Argentina, Brazil and Canada.
Since the Under-18 event began in 1988, the USA is 48-2.
The USA team was coached by Dawn Staley (South Carolina) and assistants Jeff Walz (Louisville) and Kim Barnes-Arico (Michigan).
Wilson was one of four American players who averaged in double figures for the tournament. She averaged more points (19.0) than minutes played (18.6), and also rebounded at an 8.4 boards-per-game clip with 10 blocked shots.
Napheesa Collier, who has pledged to UConn, averaged 14 points and led the team with 8.6 rebounds and also dished out 17 assists.
Notre Dame-bound Brianna Turner, the Gatorade national girls player of the year, scored 13.6 points a game and averaged 5.4 rebounds. Jessica Shepard, who has verballed to Nebraska, didn’t start but averaged 12.6 points a game.
What’s also noticeable about this team is its generosity. Team USA averaged 106 points a game, and also averaged 25.4 assists per game. In addition to Collier’s dishing, Marina Mabrey (Notre Dame verbal), Mariya Moore (Louisville signee), Ariel Atkins (Texas signee) and Receé Caldwell (UCLA signee) who had double figures in assists.
The other team members include:
• Paris Kea, G, Vanderbilt signee;
• Teaira McCowan, C, Brenham, Texas;
• Beatrice Mompremier, C, Miami, Fla.;
• Destinee Walker, G., Orlando, Fla.
