I felt we had a pretty good game plan and thought our players really competed. What I think happened today is what happens often, their depth and speed and athleticism wears you down. “I’ve had a chance to compete against US teams a lot and certainly know it’s a full 40-minute battle against them. “I’ve watched these young women play ar0und the world in preparation for this game and certainly know what they are capable of”, explained World Coach Carly Clarke. The significance of this first Hoop Summit game was not lost on the World Coach Carly Clarke. “It’s only going to get bigger from here.” “This was a decent crowd,” said Hannah Hildago (13 points, 8 assists). “This is another path, a new path for the next generation coming behind us,” said guard K.K. “I think it was just all the (outside shooting) reps (during the team practices) I put in,” explained game leading scorer Mikaylah Williams. Mikaylah Williams’s two consecutive (six of seven from the 3) three-fest of shots opened up the USA lead at the start of the fourth quarter as the USA opened a 20-point margin quickly and finished with a 100-79 victory. The second half was a continuation of the first half battle with Team USA maintaining it’s six to 10 point margin in the third quarter before the World cut the lead to three points, 62-59 with 5:02 left behind the impressive height of 6-7 Vasconcelos, 6-5 Madina Okot (Zentech Sparks, Kenya) and 6-2 Fournier. KK Arnold (10 points) and Mikaylah Williams (8 points) led the USA at half as Aussie Shaneice Swain led the World with 12 points. The USA jumped out front 32-22 after the 1st quarter but saw the World team close the score to within six points in the 2nd quarter on Toby Fournier’s 11-point, 8 rebounds but still trailed at halftime 53-46. Coming from Australia was 5-9 Shaneice Swain (UC Capitals) and 6-1 Nyadiew Puoch (Soutside Flyers). The International team featured a few notable players including: 5-10 Diana Collins Brookwood HS (Sweden) headed to Ohio State, 6-7 Letycia Vasconcelos (Montverde Academy / Baylor) and 6-2 Canada Junior National Team dunking phenom 2024 Toby Fournier (Crestwood Prep, Ontario). The only non-USAB team members are Zoe Brooks (Plainfield, NJ / North Carolina State) and Ashlynn Shade (Noblesville, IN / Connecticut). Leading the way is FIBA u17 MVP JuJu Watkins (Sylmar, CA / Southern California), Mikaylah Williams (Bossier City, LA / LSU), Jada Williams (Kansas City, MO / Arizona), Jadyn Donovan (Upper Marlboro, MD / Duke), Sunaja Agara (Minneapolis, MN / Stanford), Madison Booker (Rindgeland, MS / Texas), Breya Cunningham (Chula Vista, CA / Arizona), Aaylah DelRosario (Danbury, CT / LSU), Hannah Hidalgo (Merchantville, NJ / Notre Dame) along with USA 3X gold medalists (M.Williams), Kamorea Arnold (Germantown, WI / Connecticut) and Sahara Williams (Waterloo, IA / Oklahoma). This team was flat loaded with USA U17 gold medalists. Yes, these players are due on camps to start college as soon as they graduate. This first women’s game between a USA team comprised of many of the USA Junior Women’s National U17 gold medal winners along with two of the USA Women’s U18 gold medal winners, all combined to bring the best to face an u19 level International team comprised of mostly foreign players being schooled in the USA and a few from overseas.įor the graduating high school USA players this was a last hurrah in the scholastic careers before they move onto college within the next 60 days. Bravo for them both as the sheer amount of publicity will bring them more financial opportunities because everyone eyes are on them. For everyone who follows or even takes a slight interest in the game knows the absolute fanfare that took place with two of the Championship game stars Tiger Angel Reese and Hawkeye Caitlin Clark. It was surprisingly held the following weekend that featured the most watched Women’s Final Four in history with the LSU Tigers winning the NCAA Division One Championship in Dallas, Texas over Iowa. PORTLAND, OR – The Nike Hoop Summit after 25 years of hosting a USA all-star men’s high school all-star squad versus an International men’s youth all-star team finally added a Women’s game.
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