PHOENIX -- Phoenix Mercury forward Jennifer Gillom was added to USA Basketball's roster Thursday, completing the U.S. squad for next month's world championships in China.

At 38, Gillom is five years older than any other player on the team. But she won a gold medal playing for the 1988 Olympic team, and current U.S. coach Van Chancellor coached her at Mississippi.

Chancellor called the 6-foot-3 Gillom one of his favorite players. "She's been around a long time and really knows the international game, and I think that will help us this time in China,'' Chancellor said.

Gillom also played on winning teams in the 1986 World Championships, 1986 Goodwill Games and 1987 Pan American Games.

Gillom led Phoenix in scoring this season at 15.3 points per game and shot a career-best 39 percent from 3-point range.

"Van always told me I could score in the dark. I think that is one of the reasons why he selected me,'' Gillom said.

The U.S. team begins training Tuesday in California and then will play a series of exhibition games in Australia before going to China to defend its world championship. The tournament will be played from Sept. 12-25.