COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Gonzaga University women's basketball seniors Katelan Redmon and Kayla Standish were both named to the 2011 USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games Team announced Tuesday. The 12-member team features 11 college athletes and one high school senior and will compete Oct. 21-25 in Guadalajara, Mexico, at the 2011 Pan American Games.
"We are so proud and happy for both Kayla and Katelan," stated Bulldog women's basketball head coach Kelly Graves. "They are both very deserving of this tremendous opportunity. What an honor to be representing the United States in such a prestigious event. We will miss them for two weeks but are wishing them and Team USA the very best in their quest for Gold."
Redmon and Standish will become the first players in Gonzaga's women's basketball history to play internationally for the United States. Standish attended the trials for the 2011 USA World University Games team this past summer and former Zag Courtney Vandersloot attended the same trials in 2009 but neither made the team. Vandersloot is currently a member of the 2011-12 USA Basketball Women's National Team.
The official 12-member USA roster also includes: Breanna Stewart (Cicero-North Syracuse H.S./North Syracuse, N.Y.), a high school senior who helped the USA to a gold medal and earned a spot on the five-person all-tournament team at the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship this past July; alongside NCAA student-athletes Shante Evans (Hofstra/West Chester, Pa.); Christine Flores (Missouri/San Antonio, Texas); Tavelyn James (Eastern Michigan/Detroit, Mich.); Emilie Johnson (UC Santa Barbara/Loomis, Calif.); Marissa Kastanek (North Carolina State/Lincoln, Neb.); Kevi Luper (Oral Roberts/Adair, Okla.); Valencia McFarland (Mississippi/ Edwards, Miss.); April Sykes (Rutgers/Starkville, Miss.); and Avery Warley (Liberty/Washington, D.C.). The player selections were made by the USA Basketball Women's National Team Player Selection Committee.
The USA, which will look to defend its 2007 Pan American Games gold medal, will be led by an experienced trio of accomplished coaches, including USA head coach Ceal Barry alongside assistant coaches Jennifer Gillom and Debbie Ryan.
"We have a great variety of players, and I think the selection committee did a tremendous job in a tough time period," Barry said. "It's tough for college players to get away, but this is a group that is versatile and talented. We'll find out once we get to Houston how we are going to fit these pieces together, and I'm looking forwarding to working with all 12 players."
The U.S. squad will open training camp on Oct. 15 with an evening practice in Houston, Texas (time and location TBD), followed by two practices on Oct. 16 and 17, and a morning session on Oct. 18. The team will depart for Guadalajara and the 2011 Pan American Games on Oct. 18, and will have a practice on Oct. 19 and 20 before the competition starts on Oct. 21.
The 2011 USA Women's Pan American Games Team includes seven players who will graduate from college in 2012, including Redmon and Standish; three members of the junior class who will graduate in 2013 and one college sophomore. Stewart has one year of high school remaining.
West Coast Conference is the only conference represented by two athletes in the Bulldog duo of Redmon and Standish. Represented by one athlete on the USA roster are the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference, Big East Conference, Big South Conference, Big West Conference, Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), Mid-American Conference (MAC), the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Summit League.
The draw for the 2011 Pan American Games women's basketball competition took place on June 27, and the U.S. women will play in preliminary round Group A, along with Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico; while Brazil, Canada, Colombia and Jamaica comprise Group B. Preliminary round play for the women's basketball competition runs Oct. 21, 22 and 23, with the semifinals on Oct. 24, and the finals on Oct. 25.
The Pan American Games are a multi-sport competition held every four years (2011, 2015, etc.) in the year preceding the Olympics. Organized by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), the Games are open to men and women representing countries from North, South and Central America and the Caribbean.
Overall, the USA women in Pan American Games competitions have won seven of 14 gold medals, as well as four silver and two bronze medals, compiling a 72-12 overall record.
Former players of note that have competed in the Pan American Games include: Jennifer Azzi (1991); Cynthia Cooper (1987); Anne Donovan (1983 and 1987); Teresa Edwards (1987 and 1991); Pat Head Summitt (1975); Nancy Lieberman (1975 and 1979); Katrina McClain (1987 and 1991); Angel McCoughtry (2007); Carla McGhee (1995); Ann Meyers (1975 and 1979); Cheryl Miller (1983); Dawn Staley (1995); Sheryl Swoopes (1995); and Candice Wiggins (2007).
USA Basketball
Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the United States by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection, training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.
Since 2008, USA Basketball men's and women's teams have compiled a sterling 134-6 win-loss record in FIBA or FIBA Americas competitions. USA teams are the current men's and women's champions of the Olympics and the FIBA World Championships; FIBA women's U19 world champions; the men's and women's title holders for the FIBA U17 World Championships; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas champions. USA Basketball currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.
For further information about USA Basketball, go to the official Web site of USA Basketball at www.usabasketball.com and connect with us on facebook.com/usabasketball, twitter.com/usabasketball and www.youtube.com/therealusabasketball.
2011 USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games Team Schedule
Date Event Location
Oct. 15 Evening Practice Houston, TX
Oct. 16 Morning Practice Houston, TX
Evening Practice Houston, TX
Oct. 17 Morning Practice Houston, TX
Evening Practice Houston, TX
Oct. 18 Morning Practice Houston, TX
Oct. 19 TBD - Practice Guadalajara, Mexico
Oct. 20 TBD - Practice Guadalajara, Mexico
Oct. 21-25 2011 Pan American Games Women's Basketball Competition
Notes:
- Practice times and locations are still to be determined.
2011 USA Basketball Women's Pan American Games Team Roster
NAME POS HGT WGT DOB YOG SCHOOL HOMETOWN
Shante Evans F 6-0 235 07/08/91 2013 Hofstra West Chester, PA
Christine Flores F 6-3 --- 07/27/90 2012 Missouri San Antonio, TX
Tavelyn James G 5-7 142 02/02/90 2012 Eastern Michigan Detroit, MI
Emilie Johnson G 5-6 --- 03/19/90 2012 UC Santa Barbara Loomis, CA
Marissa Kastanek G 5-9 155 05/31/90 2013 NC State Lincoln, NE
Kevi Luper G 5-10 --- 07/06/90 2013 Oral Roberts Adair, OK
Valencia McFarland G 5-4 118 10/21/91 2014 Mississippi Edwards, MS
Katelan Redmon G/F 6-1 155 10/11/88 2012 Gonzaga Spokane, WA
Kayla Standish F 6-2 165 11/19/89 2012 Gonzaga Ellensburg, WA
Breanna Stewart F/C 6-7 185 08/27/94 2012 Cicero N. Syracuse H.S. North Syracuse, NY
April Sykes G/F 6-1 187 07/30/90 2012 Rutgers Starkville, MS
Avery Warley C 6-3 210 05/17/87 2012 Liberty Washington, DC
Head Coach: Ceal Barry, University of Colorado
Assistant Coach: Jennifer Gillom
Assistant Coach: Debbie Ryan
Athletic Trainer: Ed Ryan, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Team Physician: Steve Foley, NBDL Sioux Falls Skyforce
