USA women's basketball sees depth as key at worlds

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) - The U.S. women's basketball team sets itself apart from the rest of the world with depth.

The Americans can wear down the opposition with wave after wave of All-Stars. If one player has an off night during the world championships, four more are ready to step up and take over.

“The fact the we can go 12 deep. Not a lot of teams can do that,” said point guard Sue Bird, one of only three players on the roster with world championship experience. “And with nine games in 11 days, that is going to be huge. Come that seventh, eighth and ninth game, it really starts to wear on you. So, I think that will be our greatest strength.”

Angel McCoughtry and Swin Cash each scored 16 points to lead a balanced offense that featured five players in double figures in a 99-73 victory over Greece on Thursday in the team's tournament opener.

“The fact that we have players coming off the bench, when you can play Angel McCoughtry off the bench, that's pretty good,” coach Geno Auriemma said. “I know every team has players that they depend on. You have to go to the players you can depend on and are going to be able to deliver when you need them. We're very fortunate that we have a few of those players.”

High-scoring Star Diana Taurasi had an off night with only eight points because of early foul trouble, but the U.S. didn't miss a beat as McCoughtry, Cash and Candice Dupree stepped up.

Greece, making its first appearance in the worlds, has two stars of its own in Evanthia Maltsi and Styliani Kaltsidou. The two combined for 50 points - unfortunately they didn't have much help offensively.

“Having played with so many of the U.S. players that's the thing, they just keep coming at you,” said Maltsi, who played a season with the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. “We had no match for them.”

Hopefully the depth will help the U.S. overcome its lack of training time. The team entered the tournament in an unfamiliar position of finishing third in 2006. The Americans haven't gone consecutive worlds without winning a gold medal since 1971-75.

McCoughtry, Cash and Bird competed in the WNBA finals and only arrived on Tuesday, allowing only one day of practice with the entire team together.

“It's a lot easier to come here and play with so many talented players,” McCoughtry said. “Coach said he could pick the starting five out of a hat and it wouldn't make a difference who's out there.”

The only player on the U.S. roster who isn't a WNBA All-Star is Maya Moore. Then again it may only be a matter of time before the UConn senior holds that distinction.

Moore became only the third collegian to play for the U.S. when she entered midway through the first quarter, joining Candace Parker (2006) and Chamique Holdsclaw (1998).

“Maya looked like a college player tonight,” Auriemma said. “She got lost a couple times on the floor. She's a smart player, she'll get better tomorrow night.”