Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands will host the 2017 Women’s Centrobasket Championship ©FIBA

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in the Americas has announced that Saint Thomas in the Virgin Islands will host the 2017 Women’s Centrobasket Championship.

Action will take place between July 12 and 16 at the University of the Virgin Islands.

The tournament will feature the national teams from the Bahamas, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico as well as the hosts.

It will be broadcast live on FIBA’s official YouTube channel.

“The Central American and Caribbean Confederation (CONCENCABA) is proud to announce the Virgin Islands as the host of our Women’s Centrobasket Championship 2017," said Ruperto Herrera, CONCENCABA President.

"This competition provides an important platform for women’s basketball throughout the region and we are confident it will be a successful event for the enjoyment of the fans of our sport in Saint Thomas."

Cuba are the defending Centrobasket champions ©Getty Images
Cuba are the defending Centrobasket champions ©Getty Images

After the five-day tournament, the top three teams will qualify for the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2017, due to be played in Buenos Aires in Argentina from August 6 to 13.

Cuba are the defending champions and have dominated the Centrobasket competition in recent years.

They have won 16 out of the 19 editions of the tournament so far.

Their most recent success came in 2014, when they beat Puerto Rico 58-47 in the final in Monterrey in Mexico.