Brooke Smith and Candice Wiggins Invited to USA Basketball National Team Trials

May 10, 2005

Colorado Springs, Colo. - A pair of Cardinal rookies will head to the 2005 USA Basketball Women's National Team Trials, May 19-22 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., as sophomore Brooke Smith and freshman Candice Wiggins will join 55 of the most talented American players for the opportunity to represent the United States this summer.

Wiggins, a Kodak/WBCA All-American, captained the 2004 Junior National Team to a gold medal in Puerto Rico last summer. She averaged 14.8 points and 3.2 steals per game as the U.S. won five-straight to capture the FIBA America's Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament title and earn a spot in the 2005 Women's Junior World Championship, which will take place in Tunisia in July 2005.

Brooke Smith

Smith was the Cardinal's leading rebounder and second-leading scorer this season, her first in a Cardinal uniform. Smith, who has two years of eligibility remaining, played her first season at Duke before transferring to Stanford. She sat out the 2003-04 campaign, but made an immediate impact this season as she helped the Cardinal to an Elite Eight appearance.

Invitations to the Trials were issued by the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee, chaired by Sue Donohoe, NCAA vice-president for Division I women's basketball.Following the four-day Trials the Collegiate Committee will announce finalists for the 12-member 2005 USA Women's U19 World Championship Team (formerly known as the Junior World Championship Team) and the 12-member USA World University Games Team.

The 2005 USA Basketball Women's National Team Trials begin Thursday, May 19, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. (all times MDT). Sessions for the U19 team candidates will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, and 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. Trials sessions for the World University Games team candidates will be held 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 20, and from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and 4:30-6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21. The Trials will conclude on Sunday, May 22 with a session from 8:00-10:00 a.m. Finalists for both the USA U19 and World University Games squads will be announced following the May 22 session. All Trials sessions will be held in Sports Center II.