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Some Thoughts on Sky, Sue & U.S. Women's Nat'l. Team by dillon77

Are You Basing Your Header on WNBA Play This Year?
If so, the head on head is that Sky is averaging 23.00 ppg and 6.0 assists per game.

Sue Bird averages 6.6 assist per game (most in the league) and 8.7 points per game. But, on Seattle, she doesn't have to score a lot of points because she's (largely) dishing off to Breanna Stewart (21.5 ppg) and Jewell Loyd (20.1 ppg).

But the assist queen and field general roles are exactly what is expected of Ms. Bird on the U.S. National Team, as well. And that's what I believe Sue Bird is very much going to be the starting point guard when the 2018 FIBA World Cup begins in September.

And guess, what, the guard starting next to her will be Diana Taurasi, who is still pumping in 18.6 ppg.

Since the last Olympics, some points you see on boards regarding the U.S. National team is:
- it's a tight-knit club and once you're in, it's hard to be thrown off;
- Coach Dawn Staley is actually a long-time member of that club (player, assistant coach, now head coach) and likes her peers;
- nonetheless, the U.S. leadership has to look for a time when their 35+ year-old guard duo starts riding off into the sunset.

But that won't be for this tournament. Dawn wants to get off to a resounding start and she wants best available on deck. And guess what, Bird and Taurasi -- both of whom took the winter season off -- look refreshed and are playing well.

The open slot is that of Lindsay Whelan, who is no longer playing internationally. One could make an argument that Seimone Augustus and/or Angel McCoughtry might also be "walking the line" this year, with the likes of Skylar, Jewell Loyd, Layshia Clarendon, Kayla McBride and Chelsea Gray playing well and knocking on the door. Even the Indiana Mitchells -- Tiffany (who played for Dawn at South Carolina) and Kelsea (who is doing well at the pro level) need to be considered.

My gut is that there will not be that much turnover for this initial turnover, but there very well could be for the Olympics two years after that, particularly with Augustus/McCoughtry.

A lot will depend on the team makeup, but right now I see Sky and Jewell as being major players for the Whelan slot. What's interesting is that Taurasi often slides into the point role, which means the new guard could be just as much a scorer as distributor. Sky and/or Jewell fit that mode.

If and when the taller guards (Augustus/McCoughtry) rotate off, that's when I can see Kmac coming into play to challenge for a slot.