Hoops Happening: 12 fun facts about the women who make up Team USA!

Want to know what your favorite Team USA players are up to off the court? Look no further than this list of fun facts for each player on the USA Basketball Women’s National Team.

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Sue Bird, Seattle Storm

While Bird is spending time with longtime friend Diana Taurasi and getting to know other players on the USA Basketball Women’s National Team, Bird’s partner, soccer star Megan Rapinoe, has been traipsing around London in support of EA Sports FIFA 19, in which she is included. Bird, of course, has been included EA Sports’ NBA Live 19. #PowerCouple

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Tina Charles, New York Liberty

No stranger to fun with her Liberty teammates, Charles has been enjoying Spanish sights with members of her Team USA squad. On Monday, she enjoyed a trip to the beach with none other than Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks.

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Layshia Clarendon, Connecticut Sun

After the Sun were bounced from the WNBA Playoffs in a second-round single-elimination game, Clarendon and her wife, Jessica, began settling into their recently-purchased Bay Area condo. Yesterday, Jessica met up with Layshia in Tenerife, Spain, to take in the rest of the FIBA World Cup.

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Elena Delle Donne, Washington Mystics

Before shipping off to Spain for the FIBA World Cup, Delle Donne had some of her teammates over, including Kristi Toliver and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. Toliver showed proper respect to the inestimable Wrigley Delle Donne, who celebrated a birthday in April.

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Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury

According to her Instagram, Griner got engaged on August 2. It’ll be interesting to see what her fiancee thinks about her new snaggle-toothed appearance, though. Griner chipped a front tooth during the preparation stage leading up to the FIBA World Cup.

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Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm

Did you know Loyd and Breanna Stewart are roommates?! Apparently they like to do yoga together as well. Let’s hope Loyd got her MVP roomie, Stewie, something other than the balloons around her neck.

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Nneka Ogwumike, Los Angeles Sparks

Before shipping off for the FIBA World Cup, Ogwumike spent some time in her hometown of Houston with her three sisters. Left to right: Chiney (Connecticut Sun), Olivia and Erica (Rice University), Nneka (LA Sparks).

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Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces

Plum did some modeling! Several months ago she was photographed for a Nike Lab ad by well-known Burberry fashion photographer Riccardo Tisci.

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Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm

Stewart has credited the raucous KeyArena crowd with helping the Storm win games at home in Seattle. Now, she’s urging everyone to make some noise off the court, too. #WhenWeAllVote

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Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury

Taurasi and wife, Penny Taylor, threw a baby shower for Leilani Mitchell during the season after Mitchell and her wife became mothers to baby Kash. Taurasi and Taylor talked about what it’s like parenting their baby, Leo, who already is becoming a sneaker head.

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Morgan Tuck, Connecticut Sun

Tuck is a fan of the nightlife. Her Instagram feed is filled with photos of her out and about on the town, like here and here. Or ... here, with Drake.

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A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

Wilson frequently references her “bae” on Twitter, and she said once that her heart belongs to someone. She also has tweeted about a “Joshua,” but without the context of him being her bae. Now, lookie lookie! The mystery of A’ja Wilson’s not-so-secret alleged boyfriend has been solved: Joshua Cunningham, who plays hoops at University of Dayton.

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Drink up, link lush!

Rebekkah Brunson of the Minnesota Lynx is bringing a new business to Minneapolis called Sweet Gypsy Waffles. Yum! And the good food appears to be served with a good message: Love More. Be Kind. Eat Well.

In other news ...

• Sue Bird explained how she, Jewell Loyd and Breanna Stewart had to pack immediately following their WNBA Championship parade in Seattle to depart for Spain the next morning.
• A’ja Wilson may be an adult legally, but her parents are sticking by her side as she transitions into full-on adulthood. Wilson’s mother is with her at the FIBA World Cup in Spain; when she plays in China in the winter, Wilson’s father will accompany her on the Asian leg of her basketball journey.
• Maya Moore led Team USA to gold at the 2012 FIBA World Cup and won the MVP trophy, too. But nary a Lynx player is on the 2016 squad and, for Moore, it was just time to take a break from basketball.
• ESPN has a new video series called Basketball: A Love Story. Diana Taurasi is included among the greats ... as she should be.

Shine brighter. * flicker flicker *

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