The U.S. Women’s Senior National Team wrapped up its fall European Tour over the weekend, splitting games in Prague and Sopron, Hungary to finish up at 3-2.

courtesy USA Basketball

Playing with just seven players, the USA also had to deal with European clubs ready to begin their seasons and playing on their home courts. So after the U.S. handed Ros Casares Valencia a 78-68 loss last Sunday in Italy, the Spanish power evened the score with an 80-76 home win on Wednesday.

The U.S. women then traveled to central Europe, where they lost 83-77 to Czech side USK Praha on Saturday before finishing the trip in winning fashion with a 73-63 victory over UNIQA-Euroleasing Sopron.

Storm forward Swin Cash ended up as the USA’s second-leading scorer at 13.4 points per game and was the team’s only player to score double digits in all five games. She added 6.3 rebounds in the four games for which complete stats are available (a stats error kept a box score from being generated for the game in Prague).

As USA Basketball prepares to name a preliminary roster for the 2012 London Olympics, Cash’s performance during the European Tour was a statement in her favor.

“For me, this was very important,” she said. “Obviously my goal is to be in London next year. We came out here not really in the ideal situation, but we were able to have growth on this trip. I think knowing what USA Basketball’s been about, having experienced players that I’ve learned from in the past, I was just trying to share some of that with the girls that are here. Everyone is working for a position on the team next year. I thought the eight of us, then the seven, we all had a lot of growth on this trip. We got closer.”

courtesy USA Basketball

Over the weekend, Storm forward Swin Cash was named MVP of the four-team tournament in Naples, Italy won by the U.S. Senior Women’s National Team. The U.S. women won both of their games against Euroleague clubs, beating Famila Schio 77-48 on Friday and knocking off Ros Casares Valencia 78-68 in Saturday’s championship game.

Cash earned MVP honors with a pair of solid games. On Friday, she had 12 points, nine rebounds and three steals. She led the USA with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting against Ros Casares, adding six boards.

“Swin throughout these past two games has been exactly what Swin’s always been,” said U.S. Head Coach Geno Auriemma. “She’s a high-energy player who’s around the ball all the time and makes big plays. She had a couple offensive rebounds and putbacks that I thought were exactly what we needed when we needed them. She is a leader out there for them.”

As the most experienced player in international competition playing for the current USA squad, Cash has emerged as a leader.

“I remember my first time when I came out with USA Basketball and players like Tina Thompson and Sheryl Swoopes took me under their wing and showed me how things were done,” she said. “I just feel that, being the seasoned player here, it’s up to me to kind of lead by example, bring energy and hopefully the other guys will follow. All the players here are really good players and they should be here. The reward is that we all come together and get the win like we did tonight.”

The U.S. squad practiced yesterday in Naples and spent today traveling to Valencia, where they will face Ros Casares again in front of a partisan crowd on Wednesday evening.

courtesy USA Basketball

USA Basketball’s training sessions are under way in Naples, Italy with Swin Cash and seven other players who will represent the U.S. on its European Tour.

Cash chatted with USABasketball.com about the tour. Click here to see that video.

For more updates leading up to Friday’s opening game, be sure to follow @SwinCash on Twitter.

With the London Olympics almost precisely 10 months away (opening ceremonies will be held on July 27), USA Basketball is continuing its preparations for the 2012 Games with a European Tour beginning this week. A group of select members of the 2009-12 U.S. Women’s National Team, including Storm forward Swin Cash, will train in Naples, Italy beginning tomorrow and then play a series of five exhibition games against European clubs. The USA is scheduled to face Spanish champion Ros Casares Valencia, ZVVZ-USK Praha, UNIQUA-Euroleasing Sopron and two other clubs as part of a tournament next weekend hosted by Pallacanestro Napoli.

Cash will be joined on the roster by four other players from last year’s U.S. team that won gold at the FIBA World Championship: Tina Charles, Candice Dupree, Asjha Jones and Diana Taurasi. Brittney Griner, Renee Montgomery and Cappie Pondexter are also participating from the 2009-12 National Team roster.  USA Basketball filled out the roster, which may include members of teams currently competing in the WNBA Playoffs after their seasons conclude, with a pair of newcomers from the San Antonio Silver Stars. Guard Danielle Robinson earned an opportunity to showcase her abilities with a successful rookie season, while veteran forward Sophia Young is newly eligible for USA Basketball after gaining her citizenship on Sept. 2. Young, a native of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has lived in the U.S. since she was 15.

For Cash, participating in the European Tour is another important step to securing a spot on the U.S. Olympic roster.

“I feel pretty good about next year going into London,” said Cash. “Once they announce the team, we’ll see what happens.”

David Dow/NBAE/Getty Images

Swin Cash has had a long relationship with USA Basketball, including representing the U.S. in the 2004 Olympics and helping the team win gold in Athens. She was also a part of the Senior National Team that played in last fall’s Ekaterinburg International Tournament. Today, USA Basketball made Cash’s role with the National Team official, as she was one of 12 players selected for the Women’s National Team for the 2010-12 time period. Cash joins teammate Sue Bird and seven other members of the 2008 Olympic team who were originally selected last August.

“It’s an honor and a blessing to be named to the national team again,” Cash told USABasketball.com. “I understand there’s a lot of time between now and September, but this is a step in the right direction.”

From this pool of 20 players – and possibly more added at a later date – USA Basketball will choose its 12-player rosters for this fall’s FIBA World Championship for Women as well as future competitions leading up to the 2012 London Olympics. Cash’s international experience will be an asset as those decisions are being made.

“I bring experience and versatility,” she said. “Winning a gold medal, competing on the international stage and spending four years under Coach (Geno) Auriemma was invaluable experience that will help me throughout this whole process. I can play the three or the four, defend multiple positions, and have a sound understanding of Coach Auriemma’s system. So for me there won’t be much of a learning curve in that regard. I’m just excited to get started.”

Speaking of Auriemma, there’s a heavy UConn presence on the National Team roster. Including Bird and Cash, seven of the 20 players are Husky alumnae.