2017 Women's AmeriCup Preview
Buenos Aries will be the centre point of women's basketball across the Americas over the next week, as the 2017 edition of the Women's AmeriCup gets underway in the Argentinian capital.
The talent on display at recent editions of the AmeriCup (formally Americas Championship) have helped the competition grow in reputation and prestige, and while no one can be certain what play will be like until the first game tips off, the 2017 AmeriCup has the potential to be a highly competitive and entertaining tournament.
Taking part are ten of the best teams from North, South and Central America, many of whom never fail to deliver at the big tournaments. After five days of group play, the two best teams from each of the two groups will advance to the knockout round - there's little room for error with this format.
In Group A, hosts Argentina are a highly cohesive team that play together well and are tough in the paint. Always go looking for shot opportunities, they are able to create plays quickly and effectively while in action. At the group stage they will face a number of other South American sides, and will no doubt be paying particular attention to neighbouring Brazil.
A regular threat in the continent, Brazil are a team that move and pass the ball quickly, with an innate ability to find the best open player for the shot, and are very physical on both ends of the court. Many teams will have their eye on the Brazilians throughout this tournament.
In addition, the South American contingent of Group A also includes tireless Colombia, who contest every possession on defence and on offence they are highly accurate and confident at shooting the ball, and Venezuela, a creative and intelligent team who are on a new winning form who made it to the final of last year’s South American championship.
Finally, Virgin Islands will be coming into the AmeriCup having won the Central American championship for the first time just a month ago, in which Natalie Day averaged a double double. Their game has improved in a very short space of time, and having experienced their first success, it will be interesting to see how they now compete at this higher level in Argentina.
Defending champions Canada will play in Group B. They are a good all-around team with a roster full of plenty of pedigree, in particular Kia Nurse who, at only 21, already has two NCAA championships and two FIBA medals under her belt, and was named MVP of the 2015 Americas championship. Their biggest threat will come from Cuba, who have consistently been one of the best teams in the Americas. A highly physical and competitive side with some of the best shooters in the women’s game, they have earned their fearful reputation in the women's basketball world.
Also in Group B, Puerto Rico are exuberant, accurate and energetic on offence, but their defence leaves much room for improvement. Their shooters will be able to keep the points coming in, but if they are to be serious contenders they will need to step up their defensive form.
Rounding out the group will be Mexico, who rally behind scoring leader Jacqueline Luna and top rebounder Alexis Castro to ensure that the job gets done, and Paraguay, competing in the tournament for the first time in six years, they will be looking to their playmaker and terrific three-point shooter Maria Mercado for inspiration.
The results may seem like a foregone conclusion, but there is plenty of room for less-fancied teams to pull off a surprise, particularly in Group A. Americas teams always assemble their very best players for the continental championships, each time resulting in a high quality contest. 2015 saw some great performances from teams with both high and low expectations behind them, the latter easily silencing any critics, and hopefully it will be more of the same two years on.
Come back for full reports of all the action, and for all the news, fixtures, rosters and more, head to the tournament's official website.
