Thompson working with the Mexican women’s national team

Published 7:00 pm Thursday, June 29, 2023

LEON, Mexico — Former Irrigon boys basketball coach Mitch Thompson is working with the Mexican women’s national team for the upcoming FIBA Women’s AmeriCup that began July 1 at the legendary Domo de la Feria.

“It’s a great honor to represent Mexico through basketball,” Thompson said. “Working with federation director Omar Quintero and coach Lindsey Harding has been tremendous, as well. We hope to continue to grow the sport in Mexico, especially for the next generation of little girls in the country.”

Harding, who is the coach of the Stockton Kings in the NBA G League, played college basketball at Duke, and was the first overall pick in the 2007 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury. In addition to Phoenix, she also played for the Minnesota Lynx, Washington Mystics, Atlanta Dream, Los Angeles Sparks and the New York Liberty. She also played professionally in Turkey and Russia.

Harding has worked as a scout and a player development coach for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Ten teams will take part in the FIBA Women’s AmeriCup, including Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Canada and the United States.

Most of the players on Mexico’s team play or have played Div. I basketball, including Mariana Valenzuela, who just finished her second year with Florida State, and Aixchel Hernandez, who just finished her freshman year at Cal State Fullerton.

Mexico will open the tournament Saturday against the Dominican Republic.