Following a week-long training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Nina Davis and her 2015 USA Basketball Women's World University Games teammates traveled to South Korea for the next step in its preparations for the July 5-13 World University Games (WUG). Davis, a 5-11 junior forward, is one of 12 members of the team coached by Joe McKeown (Northwestern), Holly Warlick (Tennessee) and Tanya Warren (Northern Iowa).
Three-time defending gold medalists at the WUGs, the U.S. wrapped up training camp in the U.S. on June 26, and will practice June 29-30 in Seoul before traveling to Guangju, site of the 2015 World University Games, on July 1. One of the highlights of the trip so far has been visiting and training at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in South Korea. Team USA is attempting to claim its 10th gold at the event.
The USA opens Group C play against Italy on July 5, before playing China on July 6 and Czech Republic 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, Taiwan 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 WUGs, 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).
ESPNU and ESPN3 will cover the World University Games from July 3 through July 14 from Gwangju, South Korea, with an emphasis on Team USA Men's and Women's Basketball. ESPNU will televise Team USA Women's Basketball pool play games (July 4 & 6) and should Team USA advance out of pool play, ESPNY will televise their semifinal game (July 11) and the Gold medal game (July 13). A potential Bronze medal game will be carried on ESPN3 (July 12).
ESPNU/Watch ESPN – WUG WBB Broadcast Schedule
Sat., July 4, 8 p.m. (CT) – Team USA vs. Italy
Mon., July 6, 3:30 a.m. (CT) – Team USA vs. China
Sat., July 11, 6 a.m. – WBB semifinal*
Mon., July 13, 4 a.m. – WBB gold medal game*
*only if Team USA is participating
The World University Games are held every other year and are organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU). The World University Games is a multi-sport competition open to men and women who are between the ages of 17 and 24, and are or have been within the past year, a student at a college or university. USA Basketball women's teams have participated in 17 prior World University Games and collected a record nine golds, six silvers and one bronze medal. Further, since 1973, the first year the USA women competed in the WUGs, USA women's teams have compiled an overall 101-15 record.
In 2013, led by tournament co-MVP and former Baylor Lady Bear Odyssey Sims, who went on to earn gold as a member of the 2014 USA World Championship Team, the USA won by an average of 34.8 points per game and finished 6-0 to claim the gold medal.
