MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced that Cheryl Reeve and Napheesa Collier will represent the Minnesota Lynx and the United States in this week’s 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament set to take in Antwerp, Belgium from Feb. 8-11. Other Lynx players representing their country in qualifying tournaments include Bridget Carleton (Canada), Dorka Juhász (Hungary) and Alanna Smith (Australia).
Following a three-day training camp in Brooklyn, N.Y., Collier was selected as part of the 12-person roster set to represent the United States throughout the qualifying games. Those playing alongside her include Ariel Atkins, Aliyah Boston, Kahleah Copper, Rhyne Howard, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Alyssa Thomas and Jackie Young. This will mark Collier’s second time wearing the red, white and blue after previously playing for Team USA during the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo that led to the United States’ gold medal victory over the host country, Japan in the Olympic Finals.
Minnesota’s own Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations Cheryl Reeve, will lead the team, continuing in her role as the 2021-24 USA Basketball Women’s National Team Head Coach. She will be assisted by Mike Thibault (Washington Mystics) and Curt Miller (Los Angeles Sparks). The four-nation pool in Antwerp will feature matchups vs. Belgium on Feb. 8 at 1:45 p.m. CT, Nigeria on Feb. 9 at 11:15 a.m. CT and Senegal on Feb. 11 at 12:15 p.m. CT.
Returning veteran Lynx forward Carleton will be donning the red and white as she represents Team Canada in their qualifying tournament taking place in Sopron, Hungary. Contests for Team Canada include Hungary on Feb. 8 at 12:00 p.m. CT, Spain on Feb. 9 at 8:30 a.m. CT and Japan on Feb. 11 at 8:00 a.m. CT. Carleton also represented her home nation in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games where Canada ended with a ninth-place finish.
Juhász, who had an impressive rookie campaign for the Lynx, will see game action for Team Hungary as it hosts one of the of the qualifying tournaments. She will be in the same four-country pool with Carleton’s Canada and the schedule for Hungary will include games against Canada on Feb. 8 at 12:00 p.m. CT, Japan on Feb. 9 at 11:00 a.m. CT and Spain on Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m. CT.
The newly signed Lynx forward Smith will be representing her nation of Australia set to compete in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belem, Brazil. Matchups for Team Australia include Brazil on Feb. 8 at 5:00 p.m. CT, Germany on Feb. 10 at 2:00 p.m. CT and Serbia on Feb. 11 at 2:00 p.m. CT. This will also mark Smith’s second Olympic Games, as she helped Australia to an eighth-place finish in Tokyo during the 2020 Games.
Team USA previously qualified for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris following a 2022 World Cup gold medal finish. All games for the USA, Canada, Hungary and Australia will stream free for Courtside 1891 subscribers.