COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Following weekend trials at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Stanford forward Erica McCall was one of 12 players named to the 2015 USA Women’s World University Games Team, USA Basketball announced Sunday.
Held from July 3-14, in in Gwangju, South Korea, the World University Games, or Universiade, is an international multi-sport event, organized for university athletes by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). Occurring every two years in cities around the globe, the Universiade incorporates both educational and cultural aspects into 12 days of sports competitions and features more than 9,000 student-athletes and officials from over 170 countries.
McCall will be part of a large contingent of Cardinal student-athletes at the global event. Two weeks ago, Stanford officials announced that its 2015 NCAA Champion women’s water polo team would represent the United States in South Korea.
McCall appeared in all 36 games during her sophomore season, making 18 starts. She was second on the team in rebounding (5.4 per game) and seventh in scoring (5.6 per game). A Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention selection, McCall closed the year with three impressive performances in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds against CSUN, Oklahoma and Notre Dame.
A veteran of USA Basketball and one of 16 USA Basketball gold medalists who attended the trials, McCall has captured three golds for her country, beginning with the 2011 U16 FIBA Americas Championship. In 2012, McCall and the United States also won the FIBA U17 World Championship and the FIBA 3X3 U18 World Championship.
The selected USA players and coaches for the 2015 USA World University Games Team will return to Colorado Springs for training camp on June 18-July 2, before departing for the tournament.
The USA women have drawn Group C and will play Italy at 10 a.m. (all times listed are local, Gwangju is +13 hours from EDT) on July 5, China at 5:30 p.m. on July 6 and Czech Republic at 8 p.m. on July 7. Playing in Group A will be Canada, Hungary, Mozambique and South Korea; Group B includes Japan, Mexico, Russia and Sweden; and Group D features Australia, Brazil, Taipei and Uganda.
The quarterfinals will be played on July 9, the semifinals are on July 11, the bronze medal game is on July 12 and the gold medal game is set for July 13.
USA Basketball women’s teams have participated in 17 World University Games and collected a record nine golds, six silvers and one bronze medal. Since 1973, the first year the USA women competed in the World University Games, USA women’s teams have compiled a 101-15 all-time record. The USA has won gold medals in the past five WUGs in which it has competed (2001, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013).