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August
5 , 2004 • New York,
New York
 Van
Chancellor, Houston Comets
Opening statement: We're a better basketball team than we were
tonight. We turned it over so much. We set a record for turnovers in a
single game, I think. We had 28 turnovers, I think. Our starters are equal
opportunity people, they turned it over 21 times. We got 80 shots, is
that unbelievable? Yolanda Griffith, 15 rebounds.
Q: You played decent defense but only shot 37 percent from the floor.
Are you concerned about that?
Chancellor: I thought our defense was excellent. For the very first
time in my career I asked the players to critique themselves and they
said, "Coach, with all the places we've been and all the things we've
done we played pretty good defense." I thought we were championship-caliber.
Offensively, we have to work and we have to cut this rotation down. I
played too many five at a time. That game was kind of made for television
so to speak.
Q: Why did you take the time out 90 seconds in and what did you say?
Chancellor: I thought we were really tight. I thought we needed to
loosen up and I wanted to tell them to relax and enjoy it. We were up
here and I thought we were trying to carry women's basketball, trying
too hard. I didn't figure I would use it later on so I might as well use
it early.
Q: What do you need to do to keep up your momentum toward success
in Athens?
Chancellor: We better get five or six player ready to go and we better
cut the rotation down. We better get a cohesive offensive unit. We're
going to be good enough defensively because we could just pressure people.
But offensively, we played the whole game without Sheryl (Swoopes) and
Katie (Smith) and those are the two players who have been with me through
China, through spring training and that hurt us too a little bit.
Q: Have you sized up the competition that you will face during the
Olympics? And if so, where do you think this team stands against some
of your stiffer competition?
Chancellor: Right now we need practice, but we knew that when we started.
We're okay. We have Russia, we have Australia, the Czech Republic, Brazil
-- they're awfully good. We're not ready for that. But we have 20 days
to get ready. We're going to practice and play and get ready for the games.
All we need is some time. Time together, time to play, trying to get us
healthy.
Q: But what is your stiffest competition once you get ready and get
to Athens?
Chancellor: The same teams I just mentioned: Russia, Brazil, Australia.
Czech Republic is big, young and good and they don't know we're the USA.
They've played against us so we don't have a reputation. When you have
a young team you don't have a reputation with them, they don't know any
better. They're just going to come to play.
 Sue
Bird, Seattle Storm
Q: What was the collective mindset of that second unit coming
into the game?
Bird: One of the things we talked about, the five of us sitting on
the bench, is that we wanted to make a difference, and for us, that just
means coming in and trying to make some plays and really holding down
the fort until those other players get back in the game, and I think we
did a good job of that tonight. We came in and raised the level of play.
Q: Why was this a good tune-up for the Olympic Squad?
Bird: Those WNBA players are good. Even though they're a team that
hasn't played together, they're athletic, they know how to play and they're
talented, so for us, it's a really good send-off game, to get one in before
heading overseas.
Q: How important is it to build chemistry?
Bird: It's important. I think the great thing about this team is everybody
knows their role. Coach pretty much lays it out. Everyone is very comfortable
with it, and everyone tries to fulfill it, and that's how chemistry builds.
The more we play together and the more we practice, it will certainly
help us heading into Greece.
Q: Is it gold medal or bust in Greece?
Bird: I believe so. Not "or bust" but all the expectations
say gold medal, and the expectations we have for ourselves say gold medal.
 Yolanda
Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs
Q: How do you feel about being selected for the team to represent
the USA at the Olympics?
Griffith: I feel honored. Being able to represent our country in 2000
and win a gold medal and again in 2004, it's a dream come true. A lot
of people are not fortunate to get a chance to represent their country
so I'm going to do the best I can to help us win the gold, three in a
row.
Q: How would you access your team's play tonight?
Griffith: We have some work. Actually, this is my second day of practice
with the team and first game with the team. I think we have some work
to do. We over passed a little bit and we should have took some open shots
that we didn't, try to be unselfish. We're going to take tomorrow off,
travel to Spain, and get ourselves together basically. Because playing
like we played tonight and having those kinds of turnovers won't win a
gold medal. We have to not be perfect the first game, but we have to be
perfect in order to get the gold medal.
Q: What was it like playing against Natalie Williams, who was your
2000 Olympic teammate?
Griffith: I think playing against Nat (Williams) during the WNBA season
for six years has helped me. She's a solid player. But that's how the
WNBA is. I am familiar with her game. It was a little challenge but I
think it was a challenge overall the way we played. We didn't play to
our ability tonight. We just have to get focused and get ready and take
care of business.
Q: Can you talk about the experience of being in Radio City Music
Hall and playing basketball?
Griffith: I tried not to go the edge. It was amazing how they put
a court in a theater. I wanted to see the Rockettes do their dance but
I didn't get a chance. But it's amazing.
Q: Does it help to have clusters of teammates who have experience
playing with each other when building team chemistry for the Olympics?
Griffith: In 2000 we trained for a very long time so we had that chemistry.
It's just a matter of us adjusting to each other and there is no excuse.
We know how to make passes, we know how to hit easy shots, we know how
to rebound and play defense. We were just playing a little unselfish and
it cost us some turnovers. We don't have a lot of time to prepare so everyday
is important and we have to come and bring our A game.
 Lisa
Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks
Q: How was it playing at Radio City?
Leslie: It was pretty exciting, much better than I thought. When we came
over here for shootaround, I told some of my teammates they were going to
be shooting some air balls tonight. I wasn't sure how focused we were going
to be able to stay, but it was cool. It was more of an overseas feel, as
far as the crowd being so far away. But it was exciting, and you could really
here the crowd when they got excited.
Q: What would you say about the chemistry of this team at this point?
Leslie: Obviously we have to build on our chemistry, having 20-plus
turnovers shows that we don't quite have that chemistry yet, but it's
our first exhibition game since the WNBA season ended and we'll continue
to get better. We have a few days to go play against Spain and France.
We have to take much better care of the ball and just continue to make
that extra pass.
Q: What do you think of the team's chances?
Leslie: Our chances are always good. It may look a little grim right
now, but we'll get it together. The target is on our head right now. The
hardest part about being Team USA is that everybody brings their best
against you. You saw what happened with the men. That's what happens.
We're used to that level of competition and we have to continue to raise
our level.
 Diana
Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
Q: Can you talk about playing for the United States and wearing
USA on your jersey?
Taurasi: It's just a great honor. There's one thing to play for a
WNBA team or a college team, but you're playing for a whole country. To
be selected to be on this team is just an honor. Tonight you saw so many
great players and only 12 got to be on this team so it definitely is an
honor.
Q: How excited are you and the team to be going to Athens?
Taurasi: As a team, we're excited. We're looking forward to going
out there and getting a gold medal. But, we know it's going to take a
lot of practice and a lot of work. It starts when we go out to Spain.
Q: What's it been like playing with Sue Bird and Swin Cash again?
Taurasi: It's great. We played together for two years and we get on
the court and it feels like the same thing. It's definitely fun playing
with them.
Q: Did you ever think about that last season that you'd be back playing
together again?
Taurasi: It's funny how life's full circle. We all go our different
ways, different WNBA teams and, now, what is it, four or five years later
and we're all back on the same team.
Q: Is it different being the new person after dominating at UConn?
Taurasi: Every situation, I'm the rookie of everything, the new kid
on the block. It's just fun though. I've had great people around me, it's
definitely been enjoyable.
Q: Personally, do you feel like you're living up to your expectations?
Taurasi: I don't really put expectations on myself or write goals.
I just go out there and play. That's all I can do. So, as long as I'm
out there and doing as much as I could, that's all I could expect.
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