Veterans Jerzy Robinson, Jordan Lee, Sienna Betts and Jazzy Davidson return to U.S. national team to join newcomers Sydney Douglas and Zania Socka-Nguemen at FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup

Jerzy Robinson knows what it means to make history as the youngest athlete ever to be selected most valuable player at the FIBA Under-16 Women’s AmeriCup, when she achieved the feat at age 14 after leading the U.S. national team to a gold medal in 2023 in Mexico.

Robinson, an incoming senior at Sierra Canyon High, will now have the opportunity to witness the historical achievement of Corona Centennial standout Sydney Douglas as American teammates competing at FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Brno, Czech Republic.

Pre-tournament interview with Sydney Douglas

Douglas, 16, born less than a week after Robinson, is making her international debut as the youngest member of the U.S. national team ever to participate in the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, which began in 1985.

Sydney Douglas, a 16-year-old sophomore at Corona Centennial High, is the youngest athlete ever to compete for the U.S. at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup, which begins July 12 in Brno, Czech Republic | Photo courtesy of USA Basketball

Robinson is competing for the U.S. for the third consecutive year, also earning MVP last July in Mexico to lead the Americans to the championship at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup.

Jordan Lee, a Stockton St. Mary’s graduate and sophomore at Texas, is also a member of the 12-player U.S. roster and competing for the Americans for the second year in a row after contributing to a gold medal last June at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup in Colombia.

Sienna Betts, a UCLA signee and recent graduate of Grandview High in Colorado, plus Bruins’ sophomore Zania Socka-Nguemen, along with USC-bound Jazzy Davidson from Clackamas High in Oregon are also scheduled to compete for the U.S., which is pursuing an 11th championship in tournament history.

The Americans, seeking their fourth consecutive gold medal, begin group play July 12 against South Korea, followed by squaring off July 13 with Hungary and a July 15 showdown against Israel.

Sierra Canyon senior Jerzy Robinson has helped the U.S. win gold medals the past two years at the FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup and the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup, and is seeking a third at the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Brno, Czech Republic | Photo courtesy of USA Basketball

Robinson had 146 points, 48 rebounds, 13 steals and nine assists in seven games for the Americans last year at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup, including 25 points, seven rebounds, an assist and a steal in an 84-64 victory against Canada in the final.

Robinson also accumulated 104 points, 61 rebounds, 12 assists and 12 steals in six contests in 2023 at the FIBA U16 Women’s AmeriCup, highlighted by 24 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a steal in a 79-59 triumph against Canada in the championship game.

Lee amassed 45 points, 26 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 steals and three blocks in six games at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup, contributing nine points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks in the final against Canada.

Jordan Lee, a Texas sophomore and Stockton St. Mary’s graduate, helped the U.S. win the gold medal last year at the FIBA U18 Women’s AmeriCup in Mexico | Photo courtesy of USA Basketball

Betts and Davidson were also members of the 12-player roster that helped the U.S. capture gold last year in Colombia.

Betts had 79 points, 48 rebounds, 11 blocks, six assists and three steals in six contests for the Americans, featuring 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks against Canada in the championship game.

Davidson added 68 points, 23 rebounds, 19 assists, 16 steals and eight blocks in six games for the U.S., including nine points, four assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block in the final against Canada.

Socka-Nguemen is one of three players with college experience on the U.S. roster – in addition to Connecticut sophomore Kayleigh Heckel and Texas sophomore Lee – scheduled to compete in the Czech Republic. Socka-Nguemen joins fellow forward Douglas in making her international debut for the Americans. 

Since an 86-82 loss to Russia in the 2017 final of the FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Italy, the Americans have won 21 consecutive games in the tournament, including the 2023 gold medal with a 69-66 victory against host Spain.