After a solid training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs last week, Jordan Hooper and her USA Basketball World University Games teammates opened five days of practice today in Kazan, Russia.

Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., and the U.S. team have spent the past two days traveling to Russia to compete in the 2013 World University Games. Women’s basketball competition is set to begin on Monday, July 8. Hooper and the United States open play in Pool B against Mali on Monday at 11:30 a.m. (CT).

The USA Basketball squad will hold its first Russian practice on Wednesday, July 3, before a practice and scrimmage on July 4. Hooper also will participate in U.S. practice on July 5, and Saturday, July 6, the same day as Opening Ceremonies for the World University Games, which begin at 10 a.m. (CT).

The U.S. squad will hold its final practice on Sunday, July 7.

Following its opening game with Mali on July 8, the U.S. team will face the Czech Republic on Tuesday, July 9 (11:30 a.m. CT), before squaring off with Brazil on Wednesday, July 10 (3:30 a.m. CT). Quarterfinal play will be held on Friday, July 12, before the semifinals onSaturday, July 13. The final round, including the Gold Medal Game, will be played on Monday, July 15.

The U.S. team consists of Hooper, Crystal Bradford (Central Michigan), Aaryn Ellenberg (Oklahoma), Reshanda Gray (California), Cassie Harberts (USC), Bria Hartley (Connecticut), Tricia Liston (Duke), Ariel Massengale (Tennessee), Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Connecticut), Theresa Plaisance (LSU), Shoni Schimmel (Louisville) and Odyssey Sims (Baylor). The team is coached by Sherri Coale (Oklahoma), Brian Giorgis (Marist) and Coquese Washington (Penn State).

USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Schedule
Kazan, Russia 

– Wednesday, July 3 – Sunday, July 7 – Practice
– Saturday, July 6 – Opening Ceremonies – 10 a.m.
– Monday, July 8 – U.S. vs. Mali – 11:30 a.m. (Pool B)
– Tuesday, July 9 – U.S. vs. Czech Republic – 11:30 a.m. (Pool B)
– Wednesday, July 10 – U.S. vs. Brazil – 3:30 a.m. (Pool B)
– Thursday, July 11 – No Game
– Friday, July 12 – Quarterfinals – 1 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. tip times
– Saturday, July 13 – Semifinals – 1 a.m. – Noon tip times
Medal Semifinals – Game 1 – 9:30 a.m.
Medal Semifinals – Game 2 – Noon
ESPNU will air a U.S. semifinal game on July 13 at Noon and 9 p.m. and on Saturday, July 14 at 4 a.m. and 10 a.m.
– Sunday, July 15 – Finals – 1 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. tip times
Gold Medal Game – 12:30 p.m.
ESPNU will air a U.S. gold medal game on July 15 at 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. and on Monday, July 16 at 7 a.m.

(All Times Central – Moscow, Russia Standard Time is 9 hours ahead of U.S. Central Time)