TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University women's basketball's Reili Richardson was one of 12 players named to the 2017 USA Basketball Women's U19 World Cup Team, according to an announcement by USA Basketball on Sunday. The team was selected by the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee. Six-time defending FIBA U19 World Cup for Women gold medalists, the United States will look to make it seven gold medals in a row at the July 22-30 event in Cividale del Friuli and Udine, Italy.
Richardson, who had previous USA trials experience after competing for a spot on the 2016 USA U18 National Team, had her name called after four days of trials featuring 32 athletes at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"It was a relief," Richardson told USA Basketball upon learning she was named to the team. "I'm really excited. I've been working hard, and from last year I learned a lot and just improved my game. I felt like I had played well – better than last year, so I had a good feeling and a positive mindset coming in.
"It means everything to have USA across my chest. I look forward to competing for gold."
Richardson, who came to ASU from Brea Olinda High School (Brea, Calif.), was able to distinguish herself out of an accomplished group of players vying for the 12 roster spots.
"This group of kids made it a really difficult decision for the committee," said George Washington University head coach Jennifer Rizzotti, chair of the selection committee. "We felt that the overall competitiveness, coachability and maturity gave us a lot of great options to choose from. We feel confident that we selected a great 12-member team that will proudly represent the United States in the FIBA U19 World Cup."
"I'm really excited about the personnel that we have on this team as the journey begins to prepare to try and win a gold medal," said USA U19 and University of Pittsburgh head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. "Watching these players through the trials, there were so many great players here, and this is a special team. The committee put together a team we feel very confident in, in their skill-set, in the energy that they will bring in representing the United States and the pride they will have in doing so. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with these players."
Richardson, a 5-11 guard, is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign in which she set ASU's single-season freshman record for assists (126). A Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention honoree, Richardson played in every game (25 starts) last season and led the team in assists (3.8 apg/12th in the Pac-12) and tied for the team lead in free throws made (79), was second in 3-pointers (20) and free throw percentage (82.3/12th in the Pac-12) and third in scoring (8.4 ppg) and steals (1.1 spg). She also finished fifth in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Richardson, whose 277 points ranked seventh in program history for most points scored by a freshman, scored in double figures 13 times, including a career-high 16 points at eventual national champion South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a game the Sun Devils led going into the final minute.
The USA Basketball Women's U19 World Cup Team will return to Colorado Springs July 7 to begin training camp before departing for Italy on July 15. The U.S. will then compete July 17-19 in a four-team exhibition tournament against host Italy, Latvia and Spain before tipping off 2017 U19 World Cup play.
After opening against Mali on July 22, the USA will face China on July 23 and cap the preliminary round against host Italy on July 25. Also competing in the 16-nation tournament are Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Korea and Spain.
Following the preliminary round, teams will be seeded according to group play, and all participating teams will advance to the July 26 round of 16. Winners will advance to the July 28 medal quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will continue playing out for classification. The medal semifinals will be held July 29, and the gold and bronze medal games are slated for July 30.
Richardson, who had previous USA trials experience after competing for a spot on the 2016 USA U18 National Team, had her name called after four days of trials featuring 32 athletes at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
"It was a relief," Richardson told USA Basketball upon learning she was named to the team. "I'm really excited. I've been working hard, and from last year I learned a lot and just improved my game. I felt like I had played well – better than last year, so I had a good feeling and a positive mindset coming in.
"It means everything to have USA across my chest. I look forward to competing for gold."
Richardson, who came to ASU from Brea Olinda High School (Brea, Calif.), was able to distinguish herself out of an accomplished group of players vying for the 12 roster spots.
"This group of kids made it a really difficult decision for the committee," said George Washington University head coach Jennifer Rizzotti, chair of the selection committee. "We felt that the overall competitiveness, coachability and maturity gave us a lot of great options to choose from. We feel confident that we selected a great 12-member team that will proudly represent the United States in the FIBA U19 World Cup."
"I'm really excited about the personnel that we have on this team as the journey begins to prepare to try and win a gold medal," said USA U19 and University of Pittsburgh head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. "Watching these players through the trials, there were so many great players here, and this is a special team. The committee put together a team we feel very confident in, in their skill-set, in the energy that they will bring in representing the United States and the pride they will have in doing so. I'm really excited to have the opportunity to work with these players."
Richardson, a 5-11 guard, is coming off an outstanding freshman campaign in which she set ASU's single-season freshman record for assists (126). A Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention honoree, Richardson played in every game (25 starts) last season and led the team in assists (3.8 apg/12th in the Pac-12) and tied for the team lead in free throws made (79), was second in 3-pointers (20) and free throw percentage (82.3/12th in the Pac-12) and third in scoring (8.4 ppg) and steals (1.1 spg). She also finished fifth in the Pac-12 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Richardson, whose 277 points ranked seventh in program history for most points scored by a freshman, scored in double figures 13 times, including a career-high 16 points at eventual national champion South Carolina in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, a game the Sun Devils led going into the final minute.
The USA Basketball Women's U19 World Cup Team will return to Colorado Springs July 7 to begin training camp before departing for Italy on July 15. The U.S. will then compete July 17-19 in a four-team exhibition tournament against host Italy, Latvia and Spain before tipping off 2017 U19 World Cup play.
After opening against Mali on July 22, the USA will face China on July 23 and cap the preliminary round against host Italy on July 25. Also competing in the 16-nation tournament are Australia, Canada, Egypt, France, Hungary, Japan, Latvia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Russia, South Korea and Spain.
Following the preliminary round, teams will be seeded according to group play, and all participating teams will advance to the July 26 round of 16. Winners will advance to the July 28 medal quarterfinals, while the remaining teams will continue playing out for classification. The medal semifinals will be held July 29, and the gold and bronze medal games are slated for July 30.