Miller To Serve on USA Basketball Selection Committee

Connecticut Sun coach Curt Miller has been named to the USA Women's
Basketball Team Player Selection Committee.

UNCASVILLE–Connecticut Sun Head Coach and General Manager Curt Miller has been chosen to serve on the 2017-20 USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee. Miller will help select the 2018 USA World Cup Team and, should the USA qualify, the 2020 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team, during his tenure.

Miller will be at the University of South Carolina for the USA National Team training camp from Feb. 9-11 as the team prepares for the 2018 FIBA Basketball World Cup for women which will be held Sept. 22-30 in Tenerife, Spain. 

“I was truly humbled when I received the phone call asking me to join this prestigious committee,” said Miller, the first openly gay male professional head coach in North America. “It is an amazing opportunity and a lifelong dream to work with USA Basketball. I look forward to being a part of the selection process over the next three years.”

The WNBA Coach and Executive of the Year in 2017, Miller is entering his third season with the franchise in 2018. Prior to joining the WNBA coaching ranks, Miller spent 24 years as a collegiate coach, the last 13 as a head coach, earning six Coach of the Year honors during his tenure.

“Curt Miller’s lengthy experience in women’s basketball and his accomplishments this past season with the Connecticut Sun make him a perfect committee member,” Callen said. “We’re happy to have him on board this quadrennium, and his insight will be valuable as we evaluate and select athletes for the USA National Team.”

Legendary UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma, who led the US
women's basketball team to gold medals in London and Rio, will join
Miller on the selection committee.

The USA Basketball Women’s National Team Selection Committee is responsible for selecting the USA National Team pool of players. From that pool, the 12-member 2018 USA World Championship Team and the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team will be selected. Three members of the Connecticut Sun—former UConn star Morgan Tuck, Courtney Williams and former No. 1 overall draft pick Chiney Ogwumike out of Stanford—are in the pool.

The USA women have won the gold medal in six-straight Olympics and captured FIBA World Cup gold medals in four of the past five World Cups, most recently in 2014. Other members of the committee include UConn women’s basketball head coach Geno Auriemma, who coached the United States to gold in the 2012 and 2012 Olympics, USA Basketball Women’s National Team Director Carol Callan, New York Liberty Head Coach Katie Smith and Los Angeles Sparks General Manager Penny Toler.

—Staff Reports