Whether it was the “young and turnt” contingency of young players on hand at USA Basketball’s training camp in Durham or who we at Beyond The W are affectionately referring to as “old and crunk,” the vibe at Duke University is that the team is in good hands.
This past weekend, a number of women’s basketball notables from both the professional and the collegiate ranks took part in a multi-day camp at Duke University. Kara Lawson, Blue Devils and USA Basketball head coach for this four-year quad, was at the controls.
There could be a 20-year-old with incredible ability – I’m not going to coach them the same as another 20-year old. And so, all of these players in here, regardless of their age have pro-level ability, elite pro-level ability. So, that’s the standard we coach them to.
–Kara Lawson, USA Basketball head coach
The “young and turnt” crowd as Paige Bueckers mentioned included her (Dallas Wings), Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson (Los Angeles Sparks), Veronica Burton (Golden State Valkyries), Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics), Angel Reese (Chicago Sky) and a returning Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever).
The beginning of 2025 was really rough for me. So, I didn’t imagine this at all. So, I would say…I’m very blessed and I’m grateful for the opportunity and the position that I’m in. But I would really just say, just, kind of, keeping my head down and understanding that the main thing is the main thing – and for me that’s basketball.
–Kiki Iriafen, USA Basketball Training Camp Invitee
It also featured Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Brionna Jones and Aliyah Boston.
Growing up, watching all the legends before me play and represent the country in a great way and bring back that gold is something you aspire to be.
–Paige Bueckers, USA Basketball Training Camp Invitee
You must give honors to the players that played before and are continuing to play. I’ve watched Sue and I’ve watched Kara when they were part of the USA team and being able to walk in their footsteps, I think it’s something that you don’t take for granted.
–Angel Reese, USA Basketball Training Camp Invitee
That camp also included several from the college ranks – most notably JuJu Watkins who is still recovering from her ACL injury she suffered at the NCAA tournament earlier this year. UCLA’s Lauren Betts also wore a red, white and blue uniform this past weekend in Durham.
While the next Olympics – given it will take place on American soil in Los Angeles – is the more high-profile occasion involving USA Basketball, the team is also preparing for next year’s FIBA World Cup set to take place in Germany. With all of the uncertainty surrounding the CBA negotiations between the WNBA and the players, there is a growing concern that the 2026 WNBA season could overlap with the FIBAs.
The talent on hand in North Carolina certainly showcase that USA Basketball is ready to continue winning gold medals for the next several Olympic/FIBA cycles. Team USA did get a massive scare at the Paris 2024 Olympics against host France before Copper was “that …..” to ensure the Stars and Stripes would once again be atop the podium for the medal ceremony at the most previous Games.
At the end of the day, these are all professional basketball players and the moment you take any other country, any other team lightly, that’s when I think it catches up to you. So, for sure, I’ve seen it for sure, even in the AmeriCup back in 2021. It’s competitive, it’s physical. There’s a level of physicality that, sometimes is even more difficult over time in those experiences.
–Veronica Burton – USA Basketball Training Camp Invitee
Those Olympics may have ensured that, similarly to what happened on the men’s basketball side, that the gap could be closing between US-based talent and those that are from the international scene. And more of that talent is making their way stateside to play in the WNBA. But some of those names could be on the final roster when we arrive at next year’s FIBAs or at LA 28.
Clark is almost a shoo-in to be on the 2028 Olympic roster. One can say that Bueckers, Reese and Watkins (who knows Los Angeles like the back of her hand) are likely to wear USA colors for 2028.
This is the biggest honor you can possibly have – playing basketball in our country is wearing ‘USA’ across your chest. So, I’m just excited to be here and honored. Obviously, it’s, kind of, like the start to the new Olympic cycle and quite a few different things before we get to that point. But, just excited to be here and be surrounded by a lot of really great players, some that haven’t played in an Olympics before and others that have a medal or multiple medals. So, I think it’s been a fun group to be around.
–Caitlin Clark – USA Basketball Training Camp Invitee
A word that was constantly used by players in their respective in-person and virtual media availabilities was “physical.” Lawson understands that playing in the international game is different from playing either at the college level or even in the W. To play in international competition means getting physical, meaning the game of a Reese or a Betts would translate almost seamlessly to the FIBAs or the Games.
Other countries are beginning to encounter this problem too given that their teams are becoming deeper and deeper with each passing international cycle. This is a problem that USA Basketball has consistently had – and it appears that this will be no different for Lawson and Bird who will have an unenviable task of selecting a final roster for the upcoming FIBA Worlds anad the 2028 Olympics.
While it is true that other nations are becoming on par with the United States – or close to it – the future of USA Basketball was on hand in North Carolina’s Research Triangle this past weekend. And one can look at a future team with Clark, Reese, Bueckers and Watkins and put them on the court against any other team and be confident in Team USA’s chances.
