USA Women's Basketball Olympic Team Finalists Announced

USA Basketball announced the 21 finalists for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team today. Head coach Geno Auriemma retained all 12 players that competed for the 2010 USA World Championship, and nine of the 21 have already earned Olympic gold medals in either 2004, 2008 or both.

The list of veritable superstars includes:

Jayne Appel (San Antonio Silver Stars)
Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx)
Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)
Rebekkah Brunson (Minnesota Lynx)
Swin Cash (Chicago Sky)
Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever)
Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun)
Candice Dupree (Phoenix Mercury)
Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky)
Brittney Griner (Baylor University)
Lindsey Harding (Atlanta Dream)
Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun)
Kara Lawson (Connecticut Sun)
Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream)
Renee Montgomery (Connecticut Sun)
Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx)
Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks)
Cappie Pondexter (New York Liberty)
Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx)
Sophia Young (San Antonio Silver Stars)

Griner marks the only collegiate player that will have the potential to make the Team USA roster. Should she make the final cut, she would be the first non-pro player to compete in the Olympics for the US women's basketball team since 1988 when Vicky Bullett (Maryland) and Brigette Gordon (Tennessee) were on the final roster.

The basketball portion of the Games will be held July 28-Aug. 11 in London, during an extended break in the WNBA season.