USA Basketball names Nate Tibbetts, Natalie Nakase, and Stephanie White as assistants for Women’s World Cup
Nate Tibbetts, Natalie Nakase and Stephanie White will assist Kara Lawson coaching the U. S. women’s basketball team at the FIBA Women’s World Cup in September.
The trio of WNBA coaches were on staff for the World Cup qualifying tournament in March. “Over the last several months, I’ve seen the incredible impact Natalie, Nate and Stephanie have each had on the USA Women’s National Team program,” USA Basketball Women’s National Team managing director Sue Bird said. “They have elite basketball minds and are all leaders who understand what it takes to represent the U.
S. at the highest level. ” The U.
S. has won the last four World Cup titles and will try to make it five in a row in Berlin. The team will be selected this summer and could feature young stars Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers to go along with four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.
Tibbetts is in his third season as head coach of the Phoenix Mercury while Nakase is in her second year with the Golden State Valkyries. White is in her second year in charge of the Indiana Fever. Nakase was the WNBA Coach of the Year last season after leading the expansion Valkyries to the playoffs.