May 19, 2007 • Colorado Springs, Colorado

After the USA U19 trials session Saturday morning and before the U21 and Pan Am session later in the morning, all the players gathered to hear from two seasoned veterans who own five Olympic medals – four golds – between them. Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, a 1988 and 1992 Olympic gold and bronze medalist, respectively, and 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Dawn Staley spoke to the group about their experiences with USA Basketball, the WNBA, overseas professional teams and even went back a little to their college years.

Coop pointed out that out of the 81 athletes in attendance, perhaps only one or two of them might one day become an Olympian. And Dawn let everyone know how she felt when she was cut from the ‘92 squad. What?? A three-time Olympic gold medalist was cut from a team? Yes, it's true.

Both of them spoke about what made them winners, on and off the court, throughout their lives. They gave advice on how to improve (hint: make those around you better). They spoke about their drive, their passion and how that has pushed them to where they are today–successfully medal-ridden and coaching at Division I programs.

They agreed it's the highest honor to don a USA Basketball jersey and represent your country and confirmed that standing on an Olympic podium with the national anthem playing as the U.S. flag is raised above all others is a feeling like no other.

Let's face it, we can't really give the half-hour session justice. What we CAN do, however, is ask a few players what kind of changes they might make to their game, what they took away from the informal chat, etc.

Jessica Adair, George Washington University
What did you take away from listening to Cooper and Staley talk about their experiences with USA Basketball? And also, did you try and change your game up a little bit before the next session to do some of the things they were talking about?
As far as what they said, it made me want to play better and pick my game up a little bit. The whole part about the pride of playing for the USA made me want to play even harder.

This is your first time trying out for a USA Basketball squad. Did it put things into perspective for you a little bit more and what did you think about Dawn being cut from a team and coming back the way she did?
Just like Michael Jordan, he got cut from a team early on, and he became the best. Her getting cut gave her something to work harder toward. I haven't been cut yet, and I don't want to get cut so I'm going to keep working hard all the way through.

Kelley Cain, St. Pius X High School, University of Tennessee freshman-to-be
Do you think hearing from Cooper and Staley will help you during the remainder of the trials and in your basketball career?
Getting their perspective on this whole process and what it takes to be great, that really helps. Especially coming from former players it helps us get comfortable with it. They reiterated what we've heard before, and it just makes it even more important. Since they're stressing it so much, it just makes you take it to heart that much more.

What did you take from the talk?
Just to constantly give my effort. It doesn't matter if you miss a shot, make a shot, make a big shot, mess up, whatever. That stuff isn't what's important. Be a team player. Try to make everybody around you better as long as you still doing what it is you do best.
Yeah I don't have to worry so much about, oh I didn't do this, or I didn't do that. Just give 110 percent.

Essence Carson, Rutgers University
What did you take away from listening to Cooper and Staley talk about their experiences with USA Basketball?
One thing that I definitely took away from that was their perseverance. No matter what happened to them, they always had the determination. They always had the heart to come back. A lot of people when they get cut from a team, they're afraid to get cut again so they won't return. One thing with those two, they returned. They kept fighting and fighting for their position, fighting for that spot on the team.

One thing I like about them was that the one most important thing is that the sport is their passion. One of those passion is putting the USA at the top of the map, the top of the globe. I hope to be able one day to be one of those people to be able to represent the country on the biggest stage, at the Olympics.

I just encourage everyone, especially the younger ones coming up now, even if you get cut, come back. I've seen it happen many times. People who have gotten cut one year came back the next year and made the team. It's all about heart.

A'Quonesia Franklin, Texas A&M University
What did you take away from listening to Cooper and Staley talk about their experiences with USA Basketball? Especially hearing Dawn talk about what you have to do as a point guard to make those around you better?
Overall, they're great players. It takes hard work and dedication to the game to be the best and to be an Olympian.

As a point guard, you have to know the game. Knowledge of the game helps you out a lot and you have to make sure that you make the people around you better.

Did you change anything when you went into the session? Did you think about what they said a little more?
Actually I did. She said look at the different point guards you're going against and take a little bit from that. I watched more of the point guards, instead of the overall game, I watched them to see what they were doing wrong and right and took what I could for my game.

They also mentioned that the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee isn't just looking at players in terms of their statistics on the court – points, rebounds, etc., – but also the way they react to a turnover, a bad call and how they carry themselves off the court. Did you realize that before now?
Not really. I basically thought they were looking at our statistics on the court mainly. But after they told us that, I made sure I paid attention to what I did after a missed shot or after a turnover. I tried to get back on defense more, make it up on offense ... mostly defense though.

Tasha Humphrey, University of Georgia
Looking back on what Dawn and Coop talked about earlier today, in terms of making yourself valuable to a team, what do you think you bring to a team and what do you still need to work on to make yourself more valuable?
I think that I'm always working towards becoming a more versatile player. Not only being confined to the post, but also to be able to play on the perimeter. I think that opens it up a lot for a whole team. As far as my weakness and what I still need to work on, I think I need to step up more, play more consistently and be a leader at all times. When you get together on the court with players like this, everybody's the one on their teams, everybody's an all-star. But I think it takes a lot of character to get all these great players together and mesh as one.

Italee Lucas, Centennial High School, University of North Carolina freshman-to-be
What did you take from the talk?
It was very powerful, and I took a lot in. Like when they were saying it's important to make the players around you better. We all have all the talent in the world, but like they said, the most valuable thing is to make the players around you better.

Will it change the way you approach the next trials session?
I'm gonna definitely take it in. I'm not really gonna to change my game a whole lot, but I'm going to listen and try to use it.

Khadijah Rushdan, St. Elizabeth's High School, Rutgers University freshman-to-be
Is it exciting to get to hear Cooper and Staley talk about being USA Basketball athletes?
It's definitely exciting. When I was growing up, I loved Cynthia Cooper. I really look up to hear and admire her game and what she's done.

You've gotten to know Cooper, who is an assistant coach for the U19 team, your age group. What is your impression?
Usually I always think that NBA-type players or players who are that good really don't have time for anybody else. But to have her here giving back and helping us out and being friendly at the same time means a lot. I really think she has a great personality.

What did you take from the talk?
A whole lot. Just to do what you can do, and just don't worry about everything you get out of the game–do it for the love of the game. Basketball is something that I love to do, so listening to them makes me want to go out there and give it even more effort and just be the best I can be. You're not always going to like what you hear, but you have to learn what you can from everything.