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Candace Parker did more than just hold her own against some of the WNBA's best players this week. The University of Tennessee standout made a case for a roster spot on the 2008 Olympic team.
"I hope so," said Parker, who led the USA in scoring (18.0 points a game) en route to a 4-1 record in the Opals World Challenge, an international tournament in Australia. "I take away from this experience a lot of different things. I learned from a lot of great veterans."
Parker was an all-tournament team pick, as was four-time WNBA champion and Olympic gold medalist Tina Thompson, who was second on the team in scoring (17.0).
"Parker obviously had a marvelous tournament, and we got good contributions from the other ones as well," said Seattle Storm coach Anne Donovan, who will lead the USA at the 2006 worlds. "We're in good shape; you add our veteran players with our younger players, and we'll field a good team in September that will really compete hard."
The other young players included top picks in last week's WNBA draft, LSU's Seimone Augustus, selected No.1 by the Minnesota Lynx, and Rutgers' Cappie Pondexter, picked second by the Phoenix Mercury.
"I thought their contribution was great," Thompson said. "They were totally here willing to pick up and absorb everything they could. They were all sponges."
The USA won the tournament but split games with rival Australia, which was led by WNBA All-Star Lauren Jackson. The 6-5 Storm forward Wednesday got all she could handle from the 6-5 Parker, who outscored (26-23) and outrebounded (10-6) her.
Parker, mostly guarded by Jackson, had 26 points in Wednesday's loss and was 12-for-14 from the field. For the tournament she shot 69% from the field (40-for-58) and was second on the team in rebounding (8.4) behind Thompson (8.6).
"Candace ... played great, really played big," Thompson said.
*Box score, 13C
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