Official USA Basketball Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Arizona State University women’s basketball rising junior Sophie Brunner was one of 12 players named to the roster for the 2015 U.S. Pan American Women’s Basketball Team, according to an announcement by USA Basketball on Sunday.
Brunner and teammate Katie Hempen were among 51 players who participated in three days of trials at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“This is a great achievement for Sophie,” said ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne. “Getting to represent USA Basketball at the Pan American Games will be a tremendous experience as she’ll be playing with the best college players while competing against elite players from other countries. Those of us who are with her in the gym every day know how special she is. As coaches we are excited about this opportunity for Sophie and know she’ll have a lot to contribute to the team.
“It’s wonderful that our program had two players who were invited to USA Basketball’s trials. We are proud of Sophie and Katie and how well they did."
A 6-1 forward from Freeport, Illinois, Brunner earned All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention honors in 2014-15 following a season in which she started every game and concluded the campaign as the team leader in rebounding (7.6 rpg - 8th in Pac-12), steals (1.8 spg - 9th in Pac-12), FG pct. (54.3 - 4th in Pac-12) and free throws made (87) & attempted (119), second in scoring (11.9 ppg), fourth in free throw pct. (73.1) and fifth in assists (1.2 apg). She scored in double figures 23 times including 5 games with 20 or more points, and grabbed eight or more rebounds 18 times. On the defensive end, Brunner had three or more steals 10 times. In addition, she had the Pac-12 single-game high for steals in 2014-15 (8 vs. Colorado - Mar. 1). In addition, she was the only post player among the top 10 in the Pac-12 in steals (ninth in all games - 1.8 spg and third in conference games - 2.4 spg). Brunner, who had six double-doubles last season, was named to the Pac-12 All-Tournament Team after averaging 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds while connecting on 59 percent of her field goals vs. Washington State (Mar. 6) and Stanford (Mar. 7).
The U.S. Pan American Women’s Basketball Team players and coaches will return to Colorado on July 3 for the start of training camp and will depart for the competition in Toronto, Canada, on July 8. The 2015 Pan American Games women’s basketball competition will take place July 16-20.
The USA women have been placed into Group A and will take on Brazil on July 16, Dominican Republic on July 17 and Puerto Rico on July 18 in the preliminary round. Competing in Group B will be Argentina, Canada, Cuba and Venezuela.
The top two teams from each preliminary-round group will advance to the medal-round semifinals on July 19, while the third and fourth-placed teams will for fifth-eighth places. The semifinal winners will compete for the gold medal on July 20, while the semifinal losers will play for bronze.
Players eligible for the U.S. Pan American Games Team must be U.S. citizens who currently are enrolled as full-time college students with remaining eligibility for the 2015-16 school year.