Jackson, Spear Begin AmeriCup Play Saturday

Tennessee women's basketball standouts Rickea Jackson and Jewel Spear are set to begin play Saturday in the 2023 FIBA Women's AmeriCup, which runs July 1-9.

Jackson, a 6-foot-2 fifth-year forward, and Spear, a 5-10 senior guard, are part of a 12-player USA roster that will aim for their country's fifth gold medal in its seventh appearance at the event since its inception in 1989.

The USA, which won during its last two trips in 2019 and 2021, will face off against a field consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela during the 2023 AmeriCup.

Team USA was assigned to Group A and begins play Saturday at 4:40 p.m. ET vs. Venezuela in a 4,463-seat venue called Domo de la Feria (Dome of the Fair). The Americans will return to the court on Sunday at the same time to face off vs. Argentina. USA is 5-0 combined vs. those countries in previous AmeriCup play.

Following a day off, USA will close out group play by facing Brazil and Cuba on July 4 and 5. Those contests begin at 4:40 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. ET, respectively. USA stands 3-4 all-time vs. Brazil and 4-2 vs. Cuba in AmeriCup competition.

After a day of rest on July 6, bracket play begins on July 7. The quarterfinal, semifinal and final/third-place games will be contested over a three-day span, culminating on July 9.

The USA AmeriCup Team is coached by Washington State head coach Kamie Ethridge and assisted by Aaron Johnson (South Dakota State head coach) and Katrina Merriweather (Cincinnati head coach).

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Rickea Jackson

Jewel Spear

Related Videos