Additional Quotes >> USA Select Team 81, CSKA Moscow 72

USA head coach Anne Donovan, Seattle Storm
On today's game:
CSKA had been playing the best basketball in this tournament so we felt like we had to come in and play our best basketball game. We were very disappointed in our game yesterday. I thought we played sluggish and with not a lot of intensity and our players were not satisfied with that kind of performance. They were very motivated to come out against a great team and play very hard.

That's the way we need to play basketball. We came out tonight with so much intensity and so much pride in what we were doing from the very beginning. We made ourselves play good basketball with our focus and our mindset coming in. Added to that, everybody played so well. Whether it was Seimone (Augustus) playing brilliantly in the fourth quarter, Katie Feenstra coming in and getting great defensive stops for us, Janel McCarville in the back court, there were a lot of heroes in this game that are not your typical USA Basketball National Team stars. It was really nice to see everybody step on the court and play so well.

How difficult is it trying to set up lineups with limited players, you're starting with just 10 and Katie Smith got into foul trouble early and Loree Moore's knee kept her from playing (slightly swollen, listed as day-to-day)?
Katie getting into foul trouble really changes things for us because she's our utility player who can play in the perimeter and in the post. When she got into foul trouble it really limited our post rotation even more. But again, Feenstra and McCarville really stepped up and played well. Taj (McWilliams-Franklin) had a huge stop at the end of the game defensively. There wasn't anybody who didn't play significant possession minutes on the floor. That's the beauty of USA Basketball, the depth that we have in our country with our players. We just have great depth so that when we do get in a situation where Loree Moore is hurt or Katie (Smith) gets into foul trouble, even with a limited number on our roster we still have people who stepped up today.

Why did you change up the starting lineup tonight? To combat their size?
Yeah, we changed our starting lineup to go with their size a little bit. But also because Janel McCarville's been our most effective post player. Bringing her off the bench didn't seem important tonight. We needed her in the starting lineup tonight to really help Taj (McWilliams-Franklin) set a tone inside. She rebounded so well tonight. Janel does a lot of little things, she passes the ball very well and makes their bigs guard her. It put Katie (Smith) back in her natural position in the perimeter and gave us Seimone (Augustus) for a lift off the bench offensively. It's more the style we like to play.

Seimone Augustus, Minnesota Lynx
On the difference between today's game versus yesterday's:
The difference was we came out with a lot of energy, a lot of intensity. I think we played well together for 40 minutes and not just for one quarter.

On her second half performance (13 points):
I was looking to attack and put the pressure on their defense. It just so happened that things opened up and I started to hit shots.

On the team's overall performance:
I think everybody contributed well today. Janel (McCarville) had like 13 rebounds and that was key to keep (Maria) Stepanova and (Ann) Wauters off the boards. Diana (Taurasi) came in and did a wonderful job of doing what she does best, which is scoring and putting pressure on their defense. Everybody in general came out and gave a lot of defensive intensity, whether it was getting a defensive deflection on the ball, getting steals or being very effective on the offensive end and helping people get shots.

Sue Bird, Seattle Storm
On today's game:
You saw a team out there that was on a mission, knowing we had to win this game in order to advance and trying to make up for our poor performance yesterday. It was really good to see how focused we were.

Everybody seemed to be clicking, from the posts to the perimeter:
This was a total team effort. Everybody in some way, shape or form played a part in the win tonight. Especially on defense. We forced 20 turnovers against a team that's been playing together a long time and is normally very good. The normally don't do that. We really played our game plan to a T, it took almost a perfect game in order to win this. We had to play a perfect game and we did that. It was a really good feeling.

On Diana Taurasi's effort, especially the 3-pointer to end the first half:
That's Dee. She's going to make those big plays. She's going to make the big shots and do whatever it takes for us to win.

Katie Feenstra, Detroit Shock
On her performance:
It was fun. We actually played well together for the first time. This game was one that we had been practicing for. It was fun to get out there and play well together.

Everybody seemed to be loose and calm, there was no sense of urgency:
We played awful yesterday and that hurt us physically and mentally. Last night in the hotel Kara (Lawson) and I talked about upset we were about how we played. So we were preparing for this game the second last night's game was over. I think that really helped.

What was it like for you to go up against one of the top post players in the world in Maria Stepanova?
It was fun because it's always fun to play against people your own height and I don't get that very often. It's fun to compete against someone that size, just to see how you can measure up.

And how do you feel you measured up?
I think I did pretty well. Obviously there are some things I can work on and do better, but I was pleased.

Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Los Angeles Sparks
On the post play against CSKA Moscow:
We had a great rotation. Anne (Donovan) really used us to the maximum advantage. They have some tough post players, they were a little off tonight but if we make it to the finals we might have to play them again and they'll be on. You just have to be prepared. They tried to counter our big people by putting Nicole Powell out there and making us chase her around the outside and consequently we gave up some threes. But for the most part the bigs rebounded, our bigs played good, solid defense on their post. Ann Wauters is a great post player, (Maria) Stepanova is a great post player. But Katie Feenstra came to play, Janel McCarville's been playing a great tournament so far and Anne is a post coach, that's her thing. I think we did her proud with our four-man rotation, you know Katie Smith and Diana (Taurasi) got in there and mixed it up at the four a little bit also.

On Seimone Augustus' play:
She had some moves that were � if I wasn't on her team I'd be like, 'wow! That was a great move.' She's a scorer. A flat out scorer and she showed that tonight.

Loree Moore, New York Liberty
What did you think of your teammates' play today?
I think they all did a great job. They continued to keep the tempo high throughout the game. They made a lot of stops defensively and just played together. There's a lot of camaraderie on the bench and on the court, you could see everyone was into it, they were all in sync with what was going on and it was fun to watch.

How's your (left) knee feeling?
It's nothing serious, just a little sore. It's kind of day-by-day. We want to make sure I don't do anything severe to put me in a place where I'm not going to be able to play so I'll just take it day-by-day. Everything's fine, no worries.

Katie Smith, Detroit Shock
On the USA's post play today:
The big girls today, our three-man rotation of J-Mac (Janel McCarville), Taj (McWilliams-Franklin) and Katie (Feenstra), did a great job today. With the game that was going on, it was going up and down all day, obviously it wasn't a 'walk up the court' type of game. They put in a lot of work, played a lot of minutes with their defense and rebounding. Offensively, just being aggressive. I tell you what, it was fun to watch. They were doing it out there, we didn't help them any by getting out there and subbing in (laughs), they took care of business today on the inside and we took care of it on our end. It was a lot of fun to see them out there playing.

What was the difference in the game today versus the USA's game against TEO Vilnius?
Yeah, it was like Jekyll and Hyde, us yesterday and today (laughs). It was definitely different. The good thing is that our success and how we play is dictated by us. We control a lot of it. Yesterday was disappointing, we all knew it, but today was another day and it was a chance for us to go out there and show everyone what we're capable of doing. I think we somewhat relaxed a bit and did the things we know we can do. We're playing a little small here at times, but the bottom line is that sometimes you can't think too much, keep it simple, go out there and do the things you're good at and play hard.

On the team's intensity to open the game:
We wanted to attack. We wanted to get off to a good start. I had some good looks and felt comfortable shooting the ball. I think it was more about how we wanted to come out and set the tone that we were ready to play. The same thing in the third quarter, we did a great job of coming out and letting them know that we're not going anywhere. I thought everybody had moments where they made huge plays and it was a whole lot of fun.

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
On today's game:
Today was really nice for us to play that way. Yesterday, obviously, more than not playing well it was more embarrassing than anything. When you're losing to a team that � they're a good team, but one that we should have beaten if we would have played half as well as we did today. Today was kind of nice to bounce back from something like that and really show a lot of character. This team, we've only been together for a week, and to beat a team like CSKA that's been together for four years, won EuroLeague championships, it says a lot about the people on this team and our coaches, too.

There was never any panic on your faces, even when CSKA made runs, everyone seemed relaxed and enjoying the game:
You know, it's funny. Yesterday we were talking about the fact that now we get to go out and play like a team that has nothing to lose. Usually we're on the other side where the pressure's on us. Today it was kind of like, we weren't expected to win, as far as other people were concerned anyway, so in our locker room we had a good feeling before the game.

On the overall play of the team:
Everyone does their part, which really helps. But if you look at our team we're shorthanded in the post and the three post players today won the game by far for us.