Prior to 1996, the head coach had much input into the team selection. While the USA Basketball organization selected the pool of potential players, the head coach chose the final team. That changed in 1996, when USA Basketball decided to take over the selection role. The initial selection was of 11 players, with plans to add a 12th player later, which would allow the organization to determine what was most needed. The lack of input lead to some differences of opinions, as VanDerveer was concerned about teams like China with a 6'8" (2.03 m) center. She wanted more size than the USA Basketball organization chose. Although she made her feelings known on some occasions, when she vented her frustrations to her longtime assistant Amy Tucker, who was taking over as interim head coach (along with Marianne Stanley), Tucker reminded her that she had committed to coach whomever was selected, and VanDerveer kept commitments.