Colorado Springs, Colorado (May 14, 2024) - USA Basketball announced today 44 athletes expected to participate in the 2024 USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team trials at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Trials begin May 23 with the 12-member team anticipated to be announced at the conclusion of trials.
The 2024 FIBA U17 Women's World Cup is scheduled for July 13-21 in Irapuato and Leon, Mexico. The team will reconvene in Colorado Springs for training camp in early July before traveling to Mexico.
Athletes attending trials were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s Developmental National Team Committee.
Thirteen athletes represent the graduating class of 2025, 16 the graduating class of 2026, 13 the class of 2027 and one each from the classes of 2024 and 2028. Athletes eligible for this team must be U.S. citizens, born on or after January 1, 2007.
Lanie Grant represents the class of 2024. The class of 2025 includes Darriana 'Dee' Alexander, Carly Amborn, Taylor Barnes, Zhen Craft, Aaliyah Crump, Alexandra Eschmeyer, Kelis Fisher, Holland Harris, Lauren Hurst, Keziah Lofton, Emilee Skinner, Jordan Speiser and Hailee Swain.
The 2026 graduates are Jacy Abii, Kelsi Andrews, Addison Bjorn, Amari Byles, Brihanna Crittendon, Autumn Fleary, Sanai Green, Maddyn Greenway, Saniyah Hall, Kate Harpring, Jayla ‘Jordyn’ Jackson, Trinity Jones, Lola Lampley, Jerzy Robinson, McKenna Woliczko and Lanelle Wright.
Representing the class of 2027 are Haylen Ayers, Jezelle ‘GG’ Banks, Ryan Carter, Ginny Anne Dumont, Jayla Forbes, Lauren Hassell, Eve Long, Ashley MacCalla, Jessie Moses, Jordyn Palmer, Kaleena Smith, Nation Williams and Ivana Wilson-Manyacka. Sydney Douglas is a member of the class of 2028.
Thirty-five athletes have USA Basketball experience at previous trials, training camps and competition. All 12 members of the 2023 USA Women’s U16 National Team, which won gold at the 2023 FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup, are expected at trials, including Abii, Alexander, Andrews, Bjorn, Crump, Grant, Jackson, Jones, Lampley, Robinson, Swain and Woliczko. For more information on the athletes’ USA Basketball experience, refer to the attached roster.
In related news, USA Basketball announced that Meg Barber (New York University) will assume the role of head coach for the 2024 USA Women’s U17 National Team. As he continues to focus on his health, Dan Rolfes, who was previously announced as head coach after leading the 2023 USA Women’s U16 National Team to the FIBA U16 AmeriCup title last year, will no longer serve on the coaching staff.
Barber recently finished her sixth season as head coach at NYU, leading the Violets to the 2024 NCAA DIII women's basketball championship. She was a member of the coaching staff at the 2024 USA Junior National Team March minicamp in Portland, Oregon.
Trials will be led by Barber and assistant coaches Bobbi Morgan (Ursinus College, PA) and Trenia Tillis-Hoard (Tyler Junior College, TX). Morgan and Tillis-Hoard coached the 2023 USA Women’s U16 National Team last summer.
Supporting as court coaches during trials will be Krystle Johnson (Hoover High School, AL) and Brian Morehouse (Hope College, MI), both of whom will undertake their first USA Basketball assignments. Johnson was honored by USA Today as the 2022-23 Girls Team Coach of the Year, while, in January, Morehouse became the fastest NCAA basketball coach to 700 wins (in any division, men’s or women’s) in his 795th career game as a head coach.
The USA is seeking their sixth gold medal, having won the title in all but one iteration of the event (2016, bronze). The Americans hold a 40-1 all-time record in the competition.
The 2024 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup features 16 teams. The U.S., who will be in Group C, will take on Australia in their opening game on July 13, followed by Puerto Rico on July 14 and Croatia on July 16. The USA will face Puerto Rico and Croatia for the first time at the U17 World Cup. Every team will advance to the single-elimination tournament after group play.
For more information on the 2024 FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup, click here.
To apply for media credentials for trials or training camp in Colorado Springs, visit www.sportssystems.com/usabasketball.