Women's Hoops Guru

By Jonathan Tannenwald
Philly.com

WASHINGTON – Mel mused on here yesterday that Cappie Pondexter, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi and Candace Parker would be named today to USA Basketball’s squad for the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

Those four names just became official, along with five others, at a press conference held at the Verizon Center here in D.C. before tipoff of the nationally-televised Sparks-Mystics game (3:30 p.m., ABC).

The five new names are Katie Smith, Tina Thompson, Seimone Augustus, Sylvia Fowles and Lisa Leslie.

Three more players will be named later in the summer.

“We have some of the best talent in the world within these nine players,” women’s national team coach Anne Donovan said. “When we get together on July 28, it’s going to be a pretty formidable group.”

Donovan was effusive in her praise of the players selected, singling out Leslie as the squad’s best. She also praised Parker for settling in quickly to the squad.

“We really threw [Parker] into the hot seat and said, ‘Go play, kid,’” Donovan said.

Parker reflected on what it means to be named to her first ever Olympic squad.

“I can remember sitting on my couch watching the ‘96 Olympics, with tears in my eyes watching them get their medals, and telling my mom and dad I was going to be there one day,” she said.

Leslie acknowledged the significance of being named to her fourth Olympic squad.

I just feel really emotional,” she said. “I don’t know why, maybe it’s because I just had a baby. I feel so blessed to be young enough to play in another Olympics, but old enough to now be the leader of a number of great players.”

Donovan also praised Pondexter, the former Rutgers star, for earning her way onto the team.

She’s been a young, eager player that’s really adjusted to her role with USA Basketball, which is quite different than what it is for Phoenix or what it was for Rutgers,” Donovan said. “She’s worked hard to be there, so I’m proud of her for that.”

Donovan acknowledged that with the arrival of Pondexter, Parker, Augustus and Fowles, a changing of the guard might be beginning within the national team.

“Sue and Diana were the last two in Athens that were new players coming on board,” Donovan said. “I just remember Sue picking Dawn [Staley]’s brain-non stop, and I think the same thing’s happening [now]. . . My hope for this team moving forward is that lal these younger players continue to pass the baton.”

USA Basketball Senior National Team Committee Chair Renee Brown noted that of the three spots remaining on the roster, the committee was looking for “another post player, a guard and a wing.”

That post player could well be Indiana’s Tamika Catchings, who is fighting an injury and hopes to be healthy in time to get on the Olympic team.

“We do want to watch her, and watch her injuries to see how she does,” Brown said. “She’s very important to USA Basketball.”

Donovan described Catchings as “another no-brainer in my mind,” adding that she didn’t have to be as “politically correct” as Brown in describing players.

As for the team’s goals in Beijing, Leslie pulled no punches.

“It’s about gold – we don’t settle for anything less,” she said.

The breakdown of players by WNBA team is as follows:

Los Angeles: 2 (Leslie, Parker)
Phoenix: 2 (Taurasi, Pondexter)
Chicago: 1 (Fowles)
Detroit: 1 (Smith)
Houston: 1 (Thompson)
Minnesota: 1 (Augustus)
Seattle: 1 (Bird)

NOTES: The national team will hold a pre-Olympic training camp at Stanford University’s Maples Pavilion from July 28-30. After that, the team will travel to Haining, China, for the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament, with teams involved including Russia, China and reigning FIBA world champions Australia. . .

Donovan’s assistants include Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibodeault, Texas head coach Gael Goestenkors and newly-appointed South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, the former Temple coach and U.S. Olympic team flag-bearer at the Athens opening ceremonies.