The Russians Are Coming!

The Russian squad should arrive in Brazil tomorrow on Independence Day. Already here are Canada, China, Spain (all participating in the Eletrobrás International Cup) and Taiwan (Chinese Taipei). The 12-player squad was released a week ago and it has a few surprises in it. For starters, Russia has named only 4 guards, of which 2 could also play the forward position. The other big surprise is that the 1998 World Champs MVP and Russian National Team fixture since 1992, the talented center Elena Baranova, is missing from the final roster. Figuring that Maria Stepanova and Tatiana Shchegoleva are a good enough tandem to pursue the title, Russia's Igor Grudin opted to take younger, less experienced center Ekaterina Lisina. Lisina is only 19 years old and considered a project, but she has showed promise and at 6'6" she should be part of the Russian team for years to come.

The Final Roster:

Guards: Ekaterina Demagina (Vologda-Chevakata), Marina Karpunina (Spartak Moscow), Ilona Korstin (CSKA) and Oxana Rakhmatullina (Dynamo Moscow).

Forwards: Tatiana Shchegoleva, Natalia Vodopyanova (Dynamo Moscow), Svetlana Abrosimova (Spartak Moscow/Minnesota Lynx), Olga Arteshina (CSKA), and Elena Karpova (UMMC Ekaterinburg).

Centres: Maria Stepanova (CSKA/Phoenix Mercury*), Ekaterina Lisina (CSKA), and Irina Osipova (Spartak Moscow).

*technically.