The 14th edition of the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup tipped off on Monday and the competition is stacked with an impressive lineup of current and former talent from the Grind Session.
Taking place June 17-23 in Bucaramanga, Colombia, this year’s tournament features eight teams from the FIBA Americas zone. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic will compete for the title after achieving their respective qualifications in the FIBA Women’s South American and FIBA Women’s Centrobasket U17 Championships. Canada and the United States will represent the north of the region.
This year, eight current and former Grind Session players are representing their respective national teams:
BRAZIL
• Manuella Alves – Class of 2025 Forward played for former Grind Session team Central Pointe Christian Academy (FL) during the 2022-2023 season.
CANADA
• Kamora Morgan – Northern Kentucky University commit averaged 11.7 points, 1.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game during her senior year with Fort Erie International (ON, CAN).
• Nyadieng Yiech – Class of 2025 Forward averaged 17.5 points, 1.6 assists, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.6 steals per game during her junior year with Fort Erie International (ON. CAN).
• Ify Nwaobi – Liberty University commit played her sophomore and junior seasons in the Grind Session as a member of Edge School (AB, CAN).
• Taliyah Henderson – Class of 2025 Guard/Forward played with Arizona Compass Prep (AZ) during the 2021-2022 season.
• Olivia Leung – University of Dayton commit played with Crestwood Prep (ON, CAN) during the 2022-2023 season.
COLOMBIA
• Meredith Venner – Class of 2025 power forward from the Academy of Central Florida who averaged a double-double with 18.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game during her junior campaign. She also averaged 1.4 assists and 2.4 steals.
• Lissa Forero – The 17-year-old Shooting Guard from the Academy of Central Florida (FL) averaged 7.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2 assists per game during the 2023-2024 season.
“These are all tremendously talented girls who deserve the opportunity to be recognized,” said Grind Session CEO Scott Waldrop. “There’s no doubt they’ll make us and their respective nations proud over the next week and beyond.”
The group phase of the competition began on Monday, June 17 and will continue through Sunday, June 23. The quarterfinals are set for Friday, June 21, with the semifinals to be played on Saturday, June 22. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, June 23.
The top four FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup teams will secure their tickets to the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2025.
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