Ann Strother Is Back In The Game

Don’t know if you saw this, but this item qualifies as one of the most interesting of the last few weeks.

Ann Strother is lacing up her sneakers (likely Nikes) again. And in doing so, she will be teammates with current UConn guard Bria Hartley in USA Basketball’s newest venture, 3 on 3.

The four men players and four women players on the inaugural 2012 USA Basketball 3×3 National Teams are in Colorado Springs, Colo., for training camp as they prepare for the inaugural FIBA 3×3 World Championship to be played Aug. 23-26 in Athens, Greece. Strother  has been added to the women’s team, replacing Maryland’s Alyssa Thomas, who was unable to participate.

Joining Strother are Hartley, Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford and Skylar Diggins of Notre Dame.

“Playing for Team USA is as good as it gets,” Strother told USABasketball.com. “It’s an incredible honor to be here and to come in here and play with these three. I’m just excited for the opportunity.”

In her UConn career, Strother helped the team to two national titles while scoring 1,699 career points. She was selected 15th overall in the 2006 WNBA Draft by the Houston Comets before being traded to the Phoenix Mercury. Strother played three seasons in the WNBA with the Mercury, Indiana Fever and Atlanta Dream. She  played professionally in Russia and Spain and was served director of basketball operations for the University of Colorado women’s team in 2007-08 season before returning to Castle Rock, Colo., where she currently attends nursing school.

Strother represented USA Basketball at the 2003 Pan American Games and 2001 Junior World Championship, helping the U.S. to silver and bronze medals, respectively. Strother also participated against Diggins, Hartley and Ogwumike at the 3×3 National Tournament July 8 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Diggins, Hartley and Ogwumike, along with Thomas, won thetournament.

The members of the 2012 USA Basketball 3×3 National Teams will depart for Athens on Monday.

The inaugural FIBA 3×3 World Championship features 24 men’s teams and 24 women’s national teams divided into four preliminary round groups of six teams each. The USA women open Aug. 23 and play Germany and Angola, then will take on Sri Lanka and Argentina on Aug. 24, and will conclude preliminary play versus Netherlands on Aug. 25.

The top four finishing teams from each group advance to the Eight Finals to be played on Aug. 25, with winners advancing to the quarterfinals that will also be played Aug. 24. The semifinals, and the bronze and gold medal games, will be played Aug. 26.