Update: Kelsey Mitchell has briefly left the USA Women’s National Team training camp and is not expected to participate in this weekend’s pre-World Cup tournament in France following the passing of her grandmother. Our sympathies are with Kelsey and her family during this time.
Indiana Fever backcourt mates Kelsey Mitchell and Tiffany Mitchell both have been included among 16 finalists hopeful of representing the USA Basketball Women’s National Team when it competes in the FIBA World Cup, Sept. 22-30 in Tenerife, Spain.
Following three domestic tour exhibition games, both Mitchells will accompany the USA during a pre-World Cup four-team, international tournament in Antibes, France, Sept. 15-17, against Canada, France and Senegal.
The USA’s domestic tour ended Monday evening with the Americans claiming a 102-87 win over Japan, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Tiffany Mitchell scored four points in 17 minutes. Kelsey Mitchell was scoreless in just four minutes of playing time.
On Saturday, the USA defeated Canada, 74-68, with fellow Fever stars Natalie Achonwa and Kayla Alexander playing head-to-head. Achonwa scored 10 points and paced Canada with six rebounds, but Alexander, in what was her international debut with Canada’s senior national team, sustained a knee injury late in the contest.
Achonwa has been named to Canada’s World Cup roster, with Alexander replaced due to injury. All three remaining Fever stars should face each other again in France, prior to the World Cup.