COLORADO SPRINGS (FIBA World Championship for Women) - International superstars Lisa Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes are among the list of eight players selected to Team USA's squad for the FIBA World Championship for Women in Brazil.
Katie Smith, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson were the other players named at a press conference on Tuesday.
Swoopes, one of the biggest names to ever play the women's game, says the mission for Team USA in Sao Paulo is to bring home the gold.
"As Anne (Coach Donovan) said, once we come together it's not about who's the leading scorer, who's the leading rebounder, egos have to be checked at the door," Swoopes said. "That's the big thing about playing with these players, every single player understands that it's not about 'we' or 'I' or the individual, it's about the team. Our number one goal is to go to Brazil and not come home with anything less than a gold medal."
Bird was at the press conference and she said: "If you look at the core players, just to be in that group is an honour itself."
The women have claimed gold at the last two FIBA World Championships and last three Olympic Games.
Thompson, who was a crucial player for the gold-medal winning USA women at the Athens Olympics, said on Tuesday: "I'm excited to go to the World Championships and hopefully the (2008) Olympics, but also to play with the players I'm playing with because I have a lot of respect for them. I know that once you step in between those lines they're going to give the same effort and the same commitment to us being the best team that I'm going to give myself."
"This is a tremendous group of core players, with extensive experience in bringing home the gold," said Donovan.
"With this group, I know we are assured of going to battle in the World Championship with our best and most proven veterans. These players understand the drive, preparation and commitment that we need to stay on top."
The selections were made by the USA Basketball Women's senior national team committee and approved by the USA Basketball executive committee. The final four spots will be filled this summer.
The FIBA World Championship for Women will be held in September in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where the United States have been drawn alongside China, Nigeria and Russia in Group C.
By PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA