Additional Quotes >> USA Women's National Team

Aug. 8, 2008 � Beijing, China

USA head coach Anne Donovan
Was there any thought that marching wasn't a good idea with a game the next day?
There were definitely thoughts in my mind, especially with some of our players. Their fatigue is something we are managing. But we talked to the players about it, and they decided that's something they want to do, which is great. It's a big part of the experience of these Olympic games.

Do you get a chance to see anything outside of basketball?
This is my fourth Olympic games, so I can remember different things throughout those four years that I was lucky enough to see. Beach volleyball on Bondi beach, some great tennis matches, a few things, but it's generally not what I'm here for.

Sue Bird (Seattle Storm)
Is there pressure on the USA to win the gold medal?
I think that's good pressure. A lot is expected of our team. We've won the gold medal in the Olympics the last three times out. People want to take that from us, which is fine. If we're that bar, so be it. Hopefully we can just continue to raise it. We know though that everyone, when they play against us, they're going to play their best game. So, we have to be ready for that.

Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks)
How does the team feel about Opening Ceromonies?
We're looking forward to it. I think it's going to be beautiful, a little hot. Our outfits are really cute though, soo we'll look nice even though we will be burning up out there.

How difficult is it to come together in just a few weeks?
It's not an easy task to do, but it's been done before. We feel very good about our chances. We have a good team from one to 12. I think our bench is probably the strongest it's ever been, could probably start as an Olympic team itself. We're just going to play good basketball, team basketball, and we are going to hang our hats on our defense.

Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks)
On the mood just prior to opening cermomonies:
I'm very excited. This is what I've waited for my entire life. Every little girls grows up wanting to be a part of the Olympic team. Just to be there and experience it amongst everyone, with the games starting tomorrow, it's going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait until the torch runs around the track, and taking the oath and things like that. I'm really excited just to be there, and the energy surrounding it is just really exciting.

Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury)
What's the mood of the team?
I think everybody is pretty anxious to get started. We went over Czech Republic today, learned a couple things. Some of the veterans remember two years ago when they played in the world championships.

You have played many of the Czech's players in the Euroleague. What can you tell me about them?
The play really well together. They know each other inside out. All their positions are interchangeable. That's the thing about them, they're very versatile. We have to get past that, play great defense and use our depth to our advantage.

What are you most looking forward to about Opening Ceremonies?
I think the most exciting thing will be seeing a couple friends who play volleyball. I haven't seen them since we were all in Turkey, so I'm anxious to see them. And meet other people as well, and to hang around the guy's basketball team.

Katie Smith (Detroit Shock)
How exciting is this?
It's great. It's fun to have it here, and now we can get this thing rolling. No more talk, no anything. Enjoy tonight, enjoy the opening ceromonies, I'm sure they'll put on a great show, and then we tip it off tomorrow.

How would you describe the mood of the team?
Very business like. We've had some practice time, but we are ready. We are ready to show what we can do, and we're ready to go out there with a game plan and do it as hard as we can.

Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury)
On the USA's short training period:
It is difficult, but we have to look at what we are good at, and our strength has always been playing as a team and getting it together very quickly. This particular team has only been together for a week, but we have to find a way to fight that and just go with our strengths. We are able to play together, and we are willing to do it.

Is there enough time for the USA to come together?
I think it is. It's a two-week tournament, and in two weeks a team can grow. That's what we are looking to do every day, is to get better.

Do you feel like the USA has a target on its back?
I would say so. Right now we have to play with a chip on our shoulders. In 2006 in Brazil we didn't get it done. So it's time to come back and go at it as underdogs and try to get the medal back.

How tough an opener is Czech Republic?
Huge. When we talk about teams, that's the ultimate team. They've played together since they were 10, played the whole off season together on a club team in Czech. So they've probably been together for 10 years. This could be a great test for us.

Tina Thompson (Houston Comets)
How would you describe the mood of the team?
Very excited. We've been playing against one another for about two weeks now. So to get after someone else and go ahead with our Olympic quest is pretty exciting. Everybody's just ready to get after it.

Is there pressure to win gold?
I don't know if I would call it pressure, maybe I guess on the outside looking in. But we don't put any pressure on ourselves. We're all here for a reason, and we know what that task is. We know that in the history of USA women's basketball, we win gold medals. So when you sign up for this, that's what it is -- all or nothing. To us it's a gold medal or failure, so we work every day to acheive the honor of having the gold medal put around our necks.

Has everyone embraced their role on this team?
It's easy. That's what everyone before us did. So if you can't follow suit, then you shouldn't be a part of this. It's so easy, especially when you have players that have come before us, still existing on this team, like Lisa Leslie. She's a four-time Olympian, and she has humbled herself, and she always does coming into this situation. So it's very easy. I think that when you put on this uniform, you are instantly selfless. Everything that you do is to better our team because we can't do it without one another. It's not one of those type of environments where one player can get the ball 30 times and score 40 points, and we win the basketball game. It has to be a team effort, and we all know that.

What do you know about the Czech Republic?
We're very anxious. We're very anxious to play anybody at this point. But the Czech team is very familiar with one another. They have played with one another for a long time. And they are a big team. I think they average probably about 6'3' in their starting line up and their subs coming off the bench. So it's a different kind of team, we usually don't play teams like that. But just as much as we have to match up against them, they have to match up against us. We're excited about the challenge.