COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (April 18, 2023) – USA Basketball announced today that Kamie Ethridge will coach the USA Women's AmeriCup Team, which is set to compete at the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup July 1-9 in Leon, Mexico.
Ethridge has previous USA Basketball experience both as a player and coach. She is a 1988 Olympic gold medalist. Ethridge will be assisted by Katrina Merriweather (University of Cincinnati) and Aaron Johnston (South Dakota State University).
"On behalf of the USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee, we are thrilled to have Kamie Ethridge, Aaron Johnston and Katrina Merriweather leading this year's AmeriCup squad," said Doug Bruno, chair, USA Basketball Women's Junior National Team Committee. "USA Basketball could not have chosen a more experienced head coach than Coach Ethridge to lead this team. She is a proven champ as a player and coach."
In her previous assistant coaching assignments, Ethridge won a gold medal at the 2016 FIBA U18 Women's Americas Championship and silver at the 2017 FIBA U19 Women's World Cup. She was also a court coach for the 2015 USA women's junior national team trials. In addition to Olympic gold, Ethridge won gold as a player at the 1986 Goodwill Games, 1986 World Championships, 1987 Pan American Games, and the 1988 Olympic Games.
Ethridge, who has helmed the Washington State women's basketball program since 2018, was named the 2022-23 National Coach of the Year by The Athletic after guiding the team to its first-ever Pac-12 Tournament title. The program set a record total for wins at 23-10 and earned a bid to the 2023 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
"I am thrilled to have been selected to coach the 2023 USA AmeriCup team. Representing USA Basketball is one of the highlights of my career. I have been fortunate to do it as a player, an assistant coach, on committees and now as a head coach," Ethridge said. "I look forward to working with two of the very best coaches in the country in Aaron Johnston and Katrina Merriweather. It is exciting to imagine coaching some of the very best collegiate players from all across this country. I am confident in the success this team will have as we come together in pursuit of gold!"
Since the event's inception in 1993, the United States has captured four AmeriCup gold medals, including titles in 2019 and 2021.
In addition to the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela will participate in the 2023 FIBA AmeriCup. The draw is set to take place in May.
The 2023 USA Women's AmeriCup Team will be announced following team trials next month in Colorado Springs.
For more information about the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, click here.
