:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/414096/AsjhaJones___Conneticut_Sun_115.jpg)
The 12th and final roster spot for the four-time defending Olympic champions has been set with the announcement of Asjha Jones nabbing the last spot on the United States' squad.
Jones joins 11 other previously selected candidates and the 10-year WNBA veteran will be competing on her first Olympic squad.
"It was kind of like I was in disbelief and shock," Jones said about hearing the news (in USA Basketball's release). "I kind of put the Olympics out of my head because I didn't think I was going to be on the team. First I was surprised that Carol (Callan) was even calling me. Then when I answered and she told me the news, I was very surprised, very shocked. I was really, really honored to be picked up."
Jones, who played her college career at Connecticut, will be reunited on the sidelines with a bevy of former Huskies. In fact, six of the 12 women played basketball at UConn and will be playing under head coach Geno Auriemma again, only this time with USA emblazoned on their chest.
"I'm excited," said Auriemma. "I think it's well deserved. She adds an awful lot of maturity, experience and talent to this team. Some of the teams that we're going to have to beat in the Olympics, the best teams are really the ones who have the most experienced post players. Asjha has proven herself both in the WNBA and overseas to be able to defend anybody and to be able to score. She's got experience. All of the things you would look for in a player, she has those qualities. So, when we're looking at who that 12th player was, having somebody with Asjha's experience and certainly what she's done overseas, especially this year, has given us a lot of comfort knowing that we have somebody who can really compliment the other post players who have already been named."
The final roster is dotted by champions - in college, in the Olympics, in the WNBA and abroad. The 12 women representing the United States this Olympic season are:
|
5
|
Seimone Augustus |
F
|
6-0
|
168
|
04/30/84
|
Minnesota Lynx | Louisiana State | Baton Rouge, LA |
|
6
|
Sue Bird |
G
|
5-9
|
150
|
10/16/80
|
Seattle Storm | Connecticut | Syosset, NY |
|
11
|
Swin Cash |
F
|
6-1
|
162
|
09/22/79
|
Chicago Sky | Connecticut | McKeesport, PA |
|
10
|
Tamika Catchings |
F
|
6-1
|
167
|
07/21/79
|
Indiana Fever | Tennessee | Duncanville, TX |
|
14
|
Tina Charles |
C
|
6-4
|
198
|
12/05/88
|
Connecticut Sun | Connecticut | Jamaica, NY |
|
13
|
Sylvia Fowles |
C
|
6-6
|
200
|
10/06/85
|
Chicago Sky | Louisiana State | Miami, FL |
|
9
|
Asjha Jones |
F
|
6-3
|
196
|
08/01/80
|
Connecticut Sun | Connecticut | Piscataway, NJ |
|
8
|
Angel McCoughtry |
F
|
6-1
|
160
|
09/10/86
|
Atlanta Dream | Louisville | Baltimore, MD |
|
7
|
Maya Moore |
F
|
6-0
|
170
|
06/11/89
|
Minnesota Lynx | Connecticut | Lawrenceville, GA |
|
15
|
Candace Parker |
F/C/G
|
6-4
|
175
|
04/19/86
|
Los Angeles Sparks | Tennessee | Naperville, IL |
|
12
|
Diana Taurasi |
G/F
|
6-0
|
165
|
06/11/82
|
Phoenix Mercury | Connecticut | Chino, CA |
|
4
|
Lindsay Whalen |
G
|
5-9
|
169
|
05/09/82
|
Minnesota Lynx | Minnesota | Hutchinson, MN |
The women will begin training for the Olympics on May 11th, in Seattle, Wash. An exhibition will be held in Seattle on May 12 against China. The team will compete on the east coast July 16, as both the men's and women's teams will compete against Brazil in Washington, D.C.