“What a win! This has been the ultimate … the cap on my coaching career. It makes it all complete,” USA and Houston Comets Head Coach Van Chancellor said during an interview with The Hilltop after the Olympic gold medal win. The USA Women’s Basketball Team won their third gold medal at this year Olympic Games after defeating Australia 74-63. The team has won three consecutive gold medals in Olympic play,
producing a winning percentage of .933. Within the last seven Olympic basketball competitions, they have won seven medals, including five gold, one silver, and one bronze. The women received little recognition for their amazing play against their opponents. Their most dominant game was the Olympic opener, which they dismantled New Zealand with a score of 99-47. During the New Zealand game, five of the USA players scored in double figures.
The USA Women’s team has been dominant in international play since their first appearance in 1976, when they received the silver medal. The first gold medal was achieved in 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, when players like Cheryl Miller and Teresa Edwards were on the basketball
scene.
Veterans such as Tina Thompson, Dawn Staley, and Shannon Johnson helped the take control after hitting several clutch three point shots, and turning up the “D” (defense).
The players attribute their success to the dynamic character
of their coach. Tamika Catchings of Indiana Fever stated, “She’s a great leader and a great mentor. Being able to talk to her before the last game and told her that I wanted to be a great player, what did I need to do? She told me, ‘Just play your game. You are a great player.’ Hearing that from someone that has been in the game so long, she is a true
veteran and a true leader.” The win was monumental and unforgettable. Dawn Staley stated, “For women, the pinnacle of our careers is on the Olympic stage. We don’t have a whole lot of professional women’s sports and the Olympics are a platform for us to showcase our talent after college…. If we can contribute to come and win gold medals in each
and every Olympics, certainly somebody should embrace the fact that we are good.