After pulling down an offensive rebound, Breanna Stewart passed to Morgan Tuck, who then dished to Keelena Mosqueda-Lewis for a layup that extended the University of Connecticut’s lead to 63-50 with 2:54 left in the 2015 NCAA Championship game. It was a Husky connection that began years earlier with USA Basketball.

“The bond that I was able to create there (USA Basketball) early on with Stewie made it that much better when we played together in college,” said 6-foot guard Mosqueda-Lewis (Seattle Storm/ Anaheim Hills, Calif.). “We were on multiple teams together for USA before we played together in college. The same goes for Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. With these girls, the fact that we were able to build a relationship early on really helped us.”

In 2009, Mosqueda-Lewis and Stewart tried out and were named to the very first USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team, which competed in the 2009 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Mexico City. The team captured the inaugural U16 gold medal to earn a berth into the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship after topping opponents by an eye-popping average of 70.0 points per game.

“It was awesome being able to participate in something like that,” said Mosqueda-Lewis. “I think it made it more special when Carol (Callan, USA Basketball women’s national team director) told us that we were competing in the first ever (U16)  event. Already it is special to play for your country, but to represent your country at an event that has never been held before is amazing.”

In her first international competition, Mosqueda- Lewis led the red, white and blue with an average of 14.0 ppg., including four 3-pointers posted in a blowout of Dominican Republic on Aug. 10.

“Specifically, I remember how young we all were. But the experience of being somewhere new, all of us had never really gone out of the country, so to experience something different together was memorable.”

The following summer, Mosqueda-Lewis, Stewart and Tuck traveled together as members of the USA Women’s U17 National Team to Rodez and Touluse, France, for the 2010 FIBA U17 World Championship.

After cruising through its eight games to win the USA’s first gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Championship, the following summer the trio returned and helped the USA to win another championship, the 2011 FIBA U19 World Championship.

“When you think about it, I never really thought I would have the chance to play on the same team as them. It is awesome that we are all able to play with each other.”

With that kind of history and success behind her, it is not surprising to learn that Mosqeuda-Lewis would encourage all USA Basketball U16 trials participants to build relationships with their trials teammates, as you never know who you will be by your side as you battle for gold medals and national championships. 

This year’s 2015 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team Trials and the opportunity to form connections like Mosqueda-Lewis did, begins on May 21 with 157 athletes expected to participate.

Twelve fortunate USA U16 National Team members will return to Colorado Springs for training camp on June 14, before departing for the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Puebla, Mexico, and their first international adventure with USA Basketball.