rewrite this content and keep HTML tags (remove this from content : rewrite this content and keep HTML tags)
DURHAM, N.C.— The first day of training camp for USA Women’s Basketball concluded Friday evening at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina as the latest generation of collegiate and WNBA athletes made their senior national team camp debuts–including Los Angeles Sparks stars Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson.
The duo, both lottery picks in the historic 2024 WNBA draft, have grown tremendously in their time in Hollywood, representing Los Angeles, and now, their nation.
A part of the historic 2024 draft class that included viral sensations Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, Rickea Jackson is cementing her name in the conversation of growing stars in the league. Though her sophomore campaign was slowed by various injuries, her second year in the “W” involved a number of milestones.
In August, the second-year forward out of Tennessee became the first player from the 2024 class to score 1,000 career points. She also hit a game-winning layup at the buzzer in a 101-99 victory over the New York Liberty.
Outspoken, energetic, fun, and unbelievably popular on social media, rising stars like Rickea are household names not only in the WNBA, but across the national sports landscape.
Rookie of the Year and 2025 number one overall pick Paige Bueckers called this Team USA training camp roster the “young and turnt” squad in an interview with USA today Thursday. Chicago Sky All-Star Angel Reese echoed those sentiments in Friday’s Team USA press conference.
“I mean, like [Paige] said, we’re the young and turnt core. We’re the young ones coming up, and trying to get in the groove of what USA Basketball means. I mean, it’s an honor to be here. I’ve watched Kara [Lawson] play for the USA team, I’ve watched Sue [Bird] play for the USA team. And to be able to walk in their footsteps and be here as the next generation is really cool,” Reese told reporters.
The Team USA squad also includes current college stars like USC’s Juju Watkins and UCLA’s Lauren Betts, names also included in conversation about the bright future of women’s hoops.
Jackson also had high praise for her generation of national team stars.
“I feel great about being a part of this generation,” Jackson told The Sporting Tribune ,“As we were coming in from the draft we always said this draft class was special, but not only mine, but the draft class after us was special as well. So, just seeing the amazing talent on the court and seeing how everyone is just able to adapt so quickly at such a young age, I feel like has just been fun to witness.”
“Paige is right,” she continued, “this is the young and turnt group. We have fun. We’re young. We vibe out. But at the same time, we know there’s business to be handled at the end of the day, so I feel like we just have a great balance of everything.”
Her teammate Cameron Brink, the number two overall pick in 2024, has faced an uphill battle in her WNBA career.
After a strong start to her rookie season, she was sidelined for over a year with a torn ACL that ended her dream of playing in the 2024 Paris Olympics for Team USA’s 3×3 team.
“It was really tough to get injured before the Olympics last year, or gosh, however many years ago it was at this point,” Brink told reporters Friday. “I feel like I’m slowly getting better every day. And I’m thankful to be associated with USA basketball.”
Though working through her injury was a challenge, her presence still enthralled fans all over the world. During her recovery, Brink often took time to sign autographs and interact with the thousands of fans dedicated to seeing her at Crypto.com throughout the season.
The acquisition of WNBA champion and four-time All-Star Kelsey Plum from the Las Vegas Aces this past January put high expectations for the Sparks who struggled to a 7-14 mark halfway through 2025. But Brink’s timely return helped spark the team’s surge in the second half of the season. The team finished 21-23, just one game out of the playoffs.
Though the 6’4” stretch five is already impacting the game at a high level, she’s soaking in knowledge from her peers and elders in the league, including Sparks teammates Plum and Hamby.
“This is a very surreal experience,” Brink continued. “It’s still day one but, I’m learning a lot from players like Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, and it’s really cool to be alongside Caitlin [Clark] and Paige [Bueckers] and my Sparks teammates Rickea [Jackson], Dearica [Hamby], and Kelsey [Plum], so I feel like I’m just trying to be a sponge and soak everything up. But it’s just a really cool opportunity for me.”
Enhancing the list of familiar faces for Brink is her former Stanford teammate and USC alumnus Kiki Iriafen. The “twin-towers” duo made a Final Four appearance for the Stanford Cardinal in the 2021-22 NCAA tournament and have had a great relationship since.
“I just feel super close with Kiki and just really proud of everything she’s been doing,” Brink said. “I mean it honestly feels like we get to be back on the court together, and we played so well together in college. So it’s a really cool full circle moment.”
Led by former WNBA champion and Duke Women’s Basketball coach Kara Lawson, Team USA includes a robust staff including WNBA coaches Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, and Stephanie White.
According to USA Basketball, managing director Sue Bird will evaluate players prior to naming a team for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, which will take place from Sept. 4-13, 2026 in Berlin. Training camp continues Saturday before concluding on Sunday, December 14.
