Three players including former UConn star Renee Montgomery were cut from the list of finalists as USA Basketball took another step towards naming its roster for the upcoming FIBA World Championships.

Montgomery, fellow guard Lindsey Harding and forward Ebony Hoffman were eliminated from the group of players vying for the 12 spots. Cappie Pondexter, who U.S. coach Geno Auriemma said was not expected to play for the U.S., was also left off the list of finalists.

UConn senior Maya Moore, former Huskies Sue Bird, Swin Cash, Tina Charles, Asjha Jones and Diana Taurasi were joined by Seimone Augustus, Jayne Appel, Tamika Catchings, Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Kara Lawson, Angel McCoughtry and Lindsay Whalen on the list of finalists. Two more players will need to be cut by Tuesday when the U.S. has to submit its 12-player roster for the world championships.

The biggest surprise to me was Hoffman since she started both of the exhibition games the U.S. squad played in Hartford earlier this month but with Augustus, Cash, Jones, Catchings, Dupree and McCoughtry the U.S. doesn't lack for forwards in the 6-foot-1 or 6-foot-2 range.