Nike Basketball News

This Is Our Team: Lisa Leslie

Hotnix — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:53:21 GMT

With three gold medals under her belt, Lisa Leslie faces her ultimate challenge: passing on her wisdom to a new Team USA.

No one on the U.S. Women’s Team has more experience than Lisa Leslie – or the gold medals to prove it. The future Hall of Famer, who’s been setting records and standards since high school, is now putting her experience to good use. Because for Team USA to bring home the gold this year, it’ll take more than just Lisa Leslie; it’ll take her leadership, guidance, and mentorship of younger players.

It’s not that Leslie is just the team’s star. She’s also the strategy. Women’s head coach Anne Donovan is relying on her to turn the young team into a cohesive unit, shaping much of the raw talent on the court.

“Lisa’s leadership, experience and her voice is something that we really need to play with again,” said Coach Donovan. “For our younger players in particular, to have that opportunity to be with her, interact with her and learn from her… it’s an exciting time for us.”

It would be hard to overstate Leslie’s importance to Team USA. The few times she’s been absent – the semis against Russia at the World Championships, the 2007 qualifying campaign – her team has fallen in defeat. It was only in 2007, at the FIBA Americas tournament, that her teammates forged ahead without her at the helm. “Lisa is our rock,” said a fellow team member. “She’s our foundation.”

After over ten years of professional league play, Lisa Leslie has had the time and dedication to work on all aspects of her game. The result is the most agile center in the history of the WNBA: she’s unguardable, impenetrable, and often unstoppable. But her strength, perhaps, still lies in her mental game.

“I feel a mixture of emotions,” Leslie says. “I feel young enough to play, but old enough to be a leader.”

And lead she will. Right to U.S. victory.

For over a decade now, Leslie has been one of the biggest forces in women’s basketball. And she knows that this summer is her chance to cap off her career as no one has done before: by winning a fourth Olympic gold medal.

“When I put on the red, white and blue,” she says, “It’s all about the gold.“

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This Is Our Team: Sue Bird

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:52:20 GMT

In 2004, Sue Bird was just happy to be on the team. In 2008, she'll be
the starting point guard, shouldering big expectations and even bigger
dreams.

For Sue Bird, returning to Team USA in 2008 is like coming back to her
home team. Between college ball, the previous Games, and her overseas
experience, Sue knows her teammates well - and knows they've got the
chemistry to win.

For the past two years, after the end of her season in Seattle, Sue has
headed over to play in the Russian league. On her team abroad, she's
played with Beijing-bound Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson, cooking up
the skills necessary to dominate the Summer Games. And Sue's
relationship with Taurasi even pre-dates their professional play; the
two of them have been bringing home championships since they were
teammates at UCONN.

"For us, the good thing about USA Basketball is because we've had so
many training camps over the years, we all know each other," says Bird.
"We've all played either with each other or know each other from
playing against each other in the WNBA. We have all played together
before and it won't take us long to get back into it."

That team chemistry was evident the first time Sue Bird joined Team
USA. Playing in the Athens Summer Games in 2004, the U.S. Women's Team
didn't lose a single game on their way to winning the gold. And the
team that helped achieve the ultimate victory - players like Lisa
Leslie, Diana Taurasi, Katie Smith and Tina Thompson - will be joining
Sue again this year in Beijing, ready to do it all over again.

But things have changed since 2004. This time around, the U.S. doesn't
come into the tournament with the same air of invincibility it had in
Athens. Back in 2006, Russia beat down the U.S. Women's Team on their
way to winning the World Championships, and Team USA finds itself
fighting for redemption this year in Beijing.

"I'm really looking forward to not only that challenge but looking back
at the World Championship our loss has stuck with everyone," admits
Bird. "I think we have a lot to prove and I'm glad I can be a part of
that and play a bigger role."

And in 2008, she'll definitely have a bigger role to play. She might've
been the youngest team member back in Athens, but this time around,
she'll be coming to the team as the starting point guard, with a lot
more expected of her.

But as one of only six women ever to win a gold medal, an NCAA
championship, and a WNBA Championship, Sue has proven she's a natural
winner. And this year, she'll get a chance to prove that again - with
her old teammates by her side.

More on Sue
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This Is Our Team: Diana Taurasi

Hotnix — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:51:26 GMT

She’s been under the gun from the start – and is bringing new fire to the game.

Her professional career may only be a few years old, but Diana Taurasi has proven she was made for the hardwood. In just one year, she went from college ball to the WNBA – the number one draft pick – to the U.S. national team, where she was the youngest player on the squad. From her debut league game, where she scored an astounding 26 points, her passion for the game has lead her to victory – and hasn’t slowed down since.

Her amazing professional career began back in 2004, fresh off one of the most accomplished college careers in history. Less than 48 hours after winning her third national title for UCONN, Taurasi was asked to be a part of the U.S. Women’s National Team. Without more than one practice, she proved to the world that she was the league’s new up-and-comer; thirteen points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocked shots later, USA walked away with a victory.

The team would face off with Lauren Jackson and Australia in the finals that summer, where Taurasi, despite her age and experience, would be instrumental in bringing home the gold.

After achieving victory that year in Athens, she went on to be named the Rookie of the Year with Phoenix, and in 2006, was named the USAB’s Female Athlete of the Year. Wherever she’s gone, whichever team she’s played with, she’s brought that same blaze of passion to the court. Despite being fresh to the league, she’s already racked up a career’s worth of awards and records.

This year, she’ll be bringing her natural instincts to a new national team, acting as a mentor to newbies like Seimone Augustus and Phoenix teammate Cappie Poindexter. Taurasi knows it’ll be up to her and fellow UCONN alum Sue Bird to help the younger players handle the pressure of playing in front of the world – something Taurasi knows all too well.

"I'm not afraid of anyone,” she says. “I'm not shy about anything. Not even my big nose.”

More on Team USA
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This Is Our Team: Seimone Augustus

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:43:39 GMT

After five years and five medals, Seimone Augustus is ready to make her debut with the Senior National Team.

Seimone Augustus is no stranger to wearing her country’s jersey. Since she was selected as the only high school player to the U20 National Team Trials, she’s gone on to collect three gold medals, a silver and a bronze with Team USA.

“USA Basketball is a different because you are surrounded by the most talented athletes who can contribute just as much as you can,” said Seimone. “You have to know where you fit in the system.”

And fit in she does. After high school, Seimone teamed up with fellow Team USA player Sylvia Fowles at LSU, leading the team to three consecutive national semis. Minnesota made her the #1 overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft, where she proceeded to lead the team in scoring and was named 2006 Rookie of the Year.

In her most recent experience for the red, white and blue, Seimone was part of the team that took first place at the 2007 FIBA Americas tournament, earning the U.S. their spot in the 2008 Summer Games. Without her determination and energy, the team may not have achieved all it has.

But for all her Team USA experience, Beijing will be Seimone’s first official chance with the Senior National Team. And to bring home another gold medal, she knows which role she’ll need to play: the team’s stopper on defense.

“Everyone knows what I can do on the offensive end, so defense is key to my role on this team and in order for me to become a complete player altogether,” she said.

Though she may lack the official experience of older players, Seimone isn’t too worried – she knows she can rely on the legendary veterans who will be fighting alongside her. Icons like Lisa Leslie and Tina Thompson will be there every step of the way, sharing their wisdom with her and the other young players. And as for Seimone, she knows she can provide the spark the team needs to pull ahead.

“I will do my best to feed off the veteran players and gain their knowledge and do whatever I can do to help the team,” said Seimone. “I think I understand what I need to do, whether I'm coming off of the bench or starting, just bring the energy and set the tempo from the tip.”

More on Team USA
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This Is Our Team: Cappie Pondexter

Hotnix — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:42:26 GMT

She’s been playing for her country since the year 2000. But now, as she heads her first Summer Games, she finds a childhood dream coming true.

Cappie’s been representing the red, white, and blue since before she could vote. She got her first taste of the gold in 2000 as part of the U18 U.S. team, and found she couldn’t get enough. From there, she went on to play at every level of international basketball – U19, U20, U21, University Games, and in 2006, to the Senior National Team. Her speed, skill, and above all, her versatility as a player helped to bring in the medals from all over the world.

While she played for her country, she also found time to dominate at the collegiate level. She led Rutgers to the national tournament every year in college, took home conference championships, and won over 80% of the games her team played.

And starting in 2006, Cappie’s amazing success continued at the pro level. After Phoenix drafted her as the second overall pick, she and Diana Taurasi formed the best backcourt in the league – so good, in fact, that it led Phoenix to the title in 2007, where Cappie was named MVP.

But for Cappie, her biggest dream has been to represent the U.S. at the Summer Games, with the whole world watching.

“This has been a dream of mine since I was a young kid,” she said. “Winning a WNBA championship and being and Olympian, to see that my dreams have almost come true… I’m almost there.” And finally, this summer, she’ll get that ultimate chance.

With her natural talent and tenacity, Cappie will be instrumental to the success of the U.S. Women’s Team. And what will she do when she’s standing on that platform, accepting the gold? “Honestly,” she says, “I think I might cry.”

More on Team USA
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This Is Our Team: Tamika Catchings

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:33:54 GMT

From the very first game, Tamika Catchings has endured a relentless stream of obstacles. Is this the year she can finally overcome her past?

With her trademark toughness and iron resolve, Tamika Catchings is the player to fear in 2008.

Seven years ago, just before her very first professional league game, Tamika suffered a serious injury. As a result, she was the only rookie that year who didn’t set foot on the hardwood. But, true to form, starting her career with a major setback only fueled her determination. And when Tamika came back in 2002, she was better than ever – and proved it by earning the Rookie of the Year award.

Now it’s 2008, and Tamika Catchings is in a similar situation. For the past year, she’s been suffering from a serious Achilles heel injury, forced to sit on the sidelines and watch her teammates play from afar. But after a season of rest, rehab, and the fiercest determination in the league, Tamika is back – and ready to join up with Team USA.

For Tamika, Team USA is like a second home. Her experience playing for her country goes back to 1996, when she won a silver medal playing for the Under-18 team. Since then, she’s gone on to collect accolades at every turn

Tamka is the only WNBA player to win gold medals at the World Championships at both the junior and senior level, not to mention the gold she took home at the 2004 Summer Games. In professional play, Tamika is a five-time All-Star, and has twice been named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Now, she’s taking the next natural step. On Team USA’s recent tour of Italy, Tamika was named one of the team’s leaders, asked to work alongside Katie Smith to mentor and guide the team. Together, they led the U.S. to a 4-0 record; and though Tamika had team highs in scoring and rebounds, she was far more proud of her new role as motivator.

When Coach Donovan asked her to take the reigns on the court, she felt she was ready.

"I've always sort of led by example and not said much. But having someone like Coach Donovan say the things I may be thinking is a good thing," said Tamika Catchings. "It's my time. I've had some great people to learn under."

Tamika’s overcome countless challenges and obstacles to earn her spot, making her quiet determination all the more fearsome. And now that she’s back from the bench, fans of Team USA can be sure of one thing: she’ll be at her best this summer in Beijing.

More on Team USA
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This Is Our Team: Tina Thompson

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:33:32 GMT

Tina Thompson is going to make sure she ignites the fire within Team USA at the 2008 Olympics.

Way back when, two of the best players in women’s basketball history played on the same high school team. Blazing the boards together at Morningside High in Inglewood, CA, Tina Thompson and Lisa Leslie never could’ve imagined the heights they’d achieve in women’s sports. After graduation, the pair continued onto college at USC, building parallel careers and breaking new records in tandem,

And now, after more than a decade of professional and international league play, they’ll be taking the court together for Team USA in Beijing.

As veterans of the game, both Tina and Lisa will be passing on their hard-earned wisdom and experience. But Tina has been tapped for more than just her leadership qualities; she was the number one pick in the first WNBA draft, and is currently a four-time All-Star, MVP winner, and second all-time leading scorer in the league. The number one scorer, just ahead of Thompson, is Lisa Leslie.

In fact, Tina’s always traded records with Leslie. While Tina leads the league in minutes and games played, Lisa’s just a step ahead on steals, rebounds, and blocks. But their friendly competition doesn’t get in the way of their real challenge: powering through the line-up in Beijing and coming home with the gold.

This year, Tina brings a new attitude and history of wins to Team USA, where raw talent will mix freely with game veterans in an effort toward the gold. Her record as a four-time league champion with Houston, and as a gold medalist in 2000 and 2004, brings an understanding that will be essential to the team: exactly what it takes to win big on an international level.

"Tina is a great addition," U.S. coach Anne Donovan said. "She's excited to be a part of the team. She gets the commitment and the difficulty that goes into winning."

As a veteran of the game, it’s on Tina to get the U.S. on the path to gold. With the help of Lisa and Detroit’s Katie Smith, a triad of team elders will mentor and shape much of the young talent on this year’s squad. But with seven gold medals between them, there’s no doubt they’ll succeed – and carry on the legacy of strength, determination, and teamwork that has always powered the U.S. Women’s Team.

More on Team USA
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This Is Our Team: Katie Smith

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:32:12 GMT

Katie Smith, the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Women’s Basketball history is on the verge of adding a third gold medal to her collection. Will this be her moment to shine?

There’s a reason Katie Smith has been considered a bedrock of the U.S. Women’s Team for almost a decade: her unbelievable versatility on the court. And this summer, as she heads off on her third quest for gold, she’s ready to use every weapon in her arsenal to win.

“Whether it's scoring, playing defense, whatever. With all the work and time you put in with the group you want to be able to give whatever it is the team needs from you at whatever time it's asked,” said Katie.

Ever since her first Team USA championship in Sydney, Katie has been willing to sacrifice everything for the team. But her last foray onto the world stage was a bittersweet event; though she dominated the court early on, she tore her cartilage in her knee during the 2004 tournament.

Forced to sit out the rest of the games, she was determined not to let the injury get the best of her.

And in true Katie fashion, she bounced back even better than before. Two years later, she was selected to the league’s All-Decade team, and in her last season for Detroit, she was tops in the league in three-point field goals, both in the number attempted and percentage made.

Katie resumed her international duties last summer when she starred on the winning team at the 2007 FIBA Americas tournament in Chile. Alongside many of her Beijing-bound teammates – Sue Bird, Seimone Augustus, Cappie Pondexter, Diana Taurasi – they went 5-0 and booked a spot for the 2008 Games.

And with two gold medals under her belt, Katie knows exactly what to expect.

“I think there's a sense of urgency, of understanding that there are no easy games. There are no halves off or quarters off,” said Katie. “We can't go out there and assume that we're the best players in the world and therefore don't have to work hard.”

Katie also knows that Team USA has what it takes to win its fourth consecutive gold medal. The only real challenge lies within themselves – and finding their rhythm as a team.

“We've put together everything in bits and pieces and it all helps. But the bottom line is that the week and a half of training prior to the Olympics will be huge. It's us getting our reps together, getting our timing with each other.”

Katie Smith has given so much to U.S. Women’s Basketball over the years, now is her time to get something back: her third and final gold medal.

More on Team USA
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This Is Our Team: Sylvia Fowles

GHarty — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:27:38 GMT

At 22 years old, Sylvia may represent the future of Team USA – but she’s determined to win here and now.

Sylvia Fowles was only eleven years old when she watched Lisa Leslie bring home that first gold medal for Team USA. But things have changed since the ’96 games. This time around, as Sylvia gets ready to join this summer’s team in Beijing, she’ll be playing on the same court as her childhood idol.

But for Sylvia, this is about more than being on the same team as Lisa Leslie. It’s also a passing of the torch, from one legendary player to a future star of the league.

For the past decade, it’s been Lisa Leslie in charge of holding down the middle for Team USA. But Sylvia, one of the most formidable centers to come along in years, is ready to take over the coveted position, and to learn from one of the all-time greats in the game.

“We have two of the best post players in the world in Lisa Leslie and a newcomer in Sylvia Fowles,” said Seattle’s Swin Cash. “It’s amazing to watch them. They’re both very gifted and talented.” And with an array of moves, they both have a lot to share with one another on the court.

But for Sylvia, just the chance to play with a legend like Leslie has her amped up.

“It's amazing! I really haven't had a chance to think about it, but it crosses my mind every now and then that I'll actually be playing with Lisa Leslie,” said Sylvia. “That's someone I always looked up to and to have the opportunity to be on the same floor with her and compete for a gold medal, that means a lot.”

Fowles has already made her presence felt in the women’s game. In her first season in the pros, the No. 2 pick in the 2008 Draft is making an immediate impact with Chicago. At 6’6’’, she towers over her competition and dominates the middle. Currently, she is second in the league in blocks (first in blocks per minute), third place in double-doubles, and in seventh place in field-goal percentage.

As for international duty, Sylvia’s performance at the Good Luck Beijing Tournament this April made it clear that she was meant for Team USA. Despite not winning the gold, Sylvia led the team in scoring and rebounding – proving, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that she was worthy of a return ticket this summer.

“I tried to play to the best of my capability and it all paid off for me, listening to what everyone had to say. I think the way I played in China had a big impact on being named to the team,” said Sylvia.

Sylvia may the youngest player on the roster, but her talent and poise have proven that she’s more than ready this year to take home her first gold.

More on Sylvia
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More on Team USA
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