Dupree Added to USA Basketball National Team

The Chicago Sky�s Candice Dupree was added to the 2010-12 USA Basketball Women�s National Team today along with 11 other WNBA players.

Dupree will join the eight previously named members of the National Team, including Chicago Sky teammate Sylvia Fowles. For the complete roster click here. The team will begin its attempt to qualify for the 2012 Olympics this fall starting with the 2010 World Championships.

�My goals as a basketball player have always been to work hard, continue to develop my skills and respect the game,� said Dupree of working towards this invite. �I believe that by doing those three things with consistency, that I have positioned myself to be mentioned in the same breath as the great players that have come through the USAB pipeline. I'm very appreciative�.

Dupree played for USA Basketball in the UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational in October 2009 after participating in the team�s training camp in Washington D.C. During the tournament Dupree started one game and split time between playing forward and guard. She saw playing time in every game averaging 7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 16.7 minutes per game. Team USA went 3-0 to win the tournament.

�I think my ability to play both inside and out are my strengths,� Dupree said. �My range extends out to the 3-point line now so at the forward position, teams have to respect that part of my game. Also, I've always been described as poised, so I think that strength will be my greatest intangible to this team�.

Candice was also recently named a starter in the Euro League All-Star Game on March 9, in Gdynia, Poland for performance with her Slovakian team, Good Angels Kosice.

The USA Basketball Women�s National Team will be coached by University of Connecticut Head Coach Geno Auriemma and assisted by Doug Bruno, of DePaul University, and Jennifer Gillom, from the L.A. Sparks.

�I�m excited because it�s a great mixture of veterans, young players, players who are versatile enough to give us an awful lot of options as to how we want to play�, said Auriemma.