DURHAM, N.C. — There’s a youth movement at USA Basketball’s camp for its women’s program this weekend, with young WNBA players Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese making their debuts with the senior-level national team.
They’ve been competing against each other in college and the WNBA over the past few years, and Bueckers was happy to have them as teammates again. Many of the young players had competed together for the U.S. on American youth teams. They’re getting their first taste of the highest level of national teamp competition at Duke University, where U.S. women’s coach leads the Blue Devils women’s program.
“It’s great competing with them for a change instead of against them, and I think we really bring out the best of each other,” said Bueckers, whose 2025 already included leading the University of Connecticut to a record-extending 12th NCAA Division I tournament title, becoming the No. 1 pick of the WNBA draft, and being voted the league’s rookie of the year as a standout guard for the Dallas Wings.
“I think that’s what USA Basketball does,” Bueckers added of the ability to unite competitors for a similar cause. “Just so many amazing athletes and women coming together for one common goal. I think that’s always brought out the best of each other. It’s really fun to be able to share the court and be on the same side for a change.”
Clark is a guard for the Indiana Fever who was the WNBA’s top draft pick and rookie of the year in 2024. Reese is a forward for the Chicago Sky who was the No. 7 draft pick in 2024. Reese led LSU to the NCAA title in 2023, when the Tigers topped Clark’s Hawkeyes in the national championship game.
Bueckers gave the group the nickname “Young and Turnt” — a phrase used by youth players in the past to describe their high energy and excitement playing with USA Basketball.
AP photo by Matt Kelley / Paige Bueckers takes part in drills during a USA Basketball camp for the senior women’s program Friday at Duke University in Durham, N.C. Looking on at left is Kara Lawson, the women’s basketball coach for both Duke and the U.S.The trio, along with other senior national newcomers Aliyah Boston, Cameron Brink and JuJu Watkins, are the future of USA Basketball with veterans Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi retired and other longtime fixtures of the roster nearing the end of their careers. The U.S. has won eight straight Olympic gold medals and four consecutive world championships.
Olympic veterans Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young are also at the three-day camp.
“Obviously there’s some vets and there’s the older class who have already came in and won gold medals, and they have that experience,” Bueckers said. “So as a younger group, you want to ask them questions, soak it up, be a sponge. Like, get their experience and then grow in our experience as well.”
The average age of the 17 players at the camp is just older than 25. Bueckers said having so many young players who have been together brings a comfort level.
“There’s a familiarity of competing with and against each other,” she said. “We kind of know each other, and it’s more comfortable that way, too. We’re all coming in, and we’re having the same expectations of just wanting to go in there and compete and have fun and bring our vibes in and just be us.”
Bird, who is now the managing director for USA Basketball, said this camp will hopefully give the new players a look at international basketball at its highest level.
“Really have it be a tone setter,” Bird, who helped the U.S. win five Olympic gold medals as a player, said of the plan. “What is it to wear USA on your chest? What is it to be on this team? Whether it’s a World Cup qualifier we’ll get to in March or hopefully the gold-medal game of a big competition, you have to set the tone on day one.”
Though many invitations went out for the camp, Bird said past Olympians such as A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Napheesa Collier had other commitments.
“There’s a lot of moving parts, that’s always how it is for USA Basketball,” Bird said. “For the young players, it’s a great opportunity to get their first feel and first taste.”
