The FIBA U19 World Cup for Women, launched in 1985, has seen its share of young athletes make the first ripples of what would become very successful basketball careers.

The USA U19 World Championship Team opened play with a 72-57 victory over Spain at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship. Read what USA head coach and athletes Napheesa Collier, Destiny Slocum, Shakayla Thomas and A'ja Wilson had to say about the win.

The USA U19 World Championship Team earned a hard-fought, 85-82 exhibition victory over Australia on July 12. Read what USA head coach Dawn Staley and athletes Crystal Dangerfield and A’ja Wilson had to say about the win.

Two years ago, 16-year-old A’ja Wilson tried out for and was named to her first USA Basketball team. The youngest member of the 2013 USA U19 World Championship Team, this summer Wilson is the USA U19 veteran and is ready to lead the team in Russia.

Headlined by 6-foot-3 forward A’ja Wilson (South Carolina/Hopkins, S.C.), one of the youngest members of the 2013 USA U19 World Championship Team and MVP of the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, eight gold medalists were named to the 2015 USA Basketball Women’s U19 World Championship Team.

Six members of the 2014 USA Basketball Women's U18 National Team returned this weekend to try out for the 2015 USA U19 World Championship Team. After qualifying the USA for the 2015 U19s, these athletes want to finish what they started and compete for gold in Russia.