/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57990081/592322982.jpg.0.jpg)
The USA Basketball women’s national team’s list of finalists was released earlier Thursday. Elena Delle Donne is on the team. But what’s the next step?
The Americans will train from February 9 to February 11, 2018 starting at 10 a.m. ET at the University of South Carolina, according to USA Basketball. Team USA head coach Dawn Staley just happens to be the head coach of the South Carolina women’s basketball team as well.
Most players, including Delle Donne will be able to participate. There are five college players who will not participate, as well as several players who are playing overseas in Asia.
The date of the minicamp is well-timed because most WNBA players who are overseas are in Europe. There is a EuroBasket Women 2019 qualifier period during this time when all the pro teams in Europe take a short hiatus to allow players to go to their national teams if they qualify.
Emma Meesseman plays for the Belgium women’s national team, so she’ll be playing for them while Team USA is in this minicamp. So she, and any American players who are in Europe won’t miss games on their European professional teams during this time.
It is possible that Team USA may have another minicamp before the WNBA regular season. The FIBA Women’s World Cup will be held from September 22 to September 30, 2018 in Spain.