GOLD MEDAL QUOTES >> USA 81, Brazil 38
Jen Rizzotti USA and University of Hartford head coach
You were an assistant on the gold-medal winning 2006 USA Women's U18 National Team. How does it feel to win one as a head coach?
It feels great. Anytime you get a chance to be a part of USA Basketball, it's an honor. But to really have the reigns of the team and to feel like you build its identity, it's exciting. I'm just really proud of the product we put out on the floor at the end of the day, and that's what our job is, to get the best out of these kids.
You set the expectations very high for this team. Did you meet them?
I do. It's hard. I was nervous going into the process, and I know, looking back now at our margin of victory, that maybe I should have been as nervous. But you want this team to meet the expecations of the accomplishments of teams in the past, and you want this team to measure up as one of the greats to ever play for the U18. So, yeah, those were high. But at the end of the day, after three weeks of being here and working hard, this team improved at a very rapid rate, and I was very proud at what it turned out to be.
Does it feel like it's been like three weeks?
In some ways I feel like it flew by, but in other ways I feel like I've been here forever. But it's all a positive experience. And it's a sacrifice to be away from your family and away from your college team for so long, but it's certainly worth it. I was very happy with my month here.
This group of players, what did they teach you?
They taught me a lot. They taught me that, even at this level, you can create the whole and not just win as individuals. Sometimes at a young age, I think you rely so much on individual talent. And this group really came together, and I think we were much better because we learned to play as a team. They challenged me to try to get the best out of them every day, and they showed me that if I gave them everything I had that they could learn, they could absorb it and they could do it the way I wanted to. So it was really nice. It was a great group to work with.
Diamond DeShields
(Norcross H.S./Norcross, Ga.)
What does it feel like to win a gold medal after training and competiting for almost three weeks?
When we were here for so long, I definitely was starting to get a little worn out, but I started to realize what I was playing for and what I actually was here for. Being so young with all these older girls, it really was an eye opener for me. I've had to grow into a much more mature young lady, and I thank all of my teammates for that. They haven't brought me down in any kind of way because of my age, and they just embraced me into the team. I wasn't expecting to be the best player on the team, I was expecting to get something great out of it, and I got a lot of maturity, a lot of new friends and I got the gold medal, so I'm happy.
Stefanie DolsonIt feels wonderful. It's maybe a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It feels great.
Did this help you improve as a player?
I definitely got better. I think we can all agree that we all got better in the three weeks that we've been here. I know for myself, I've gotten more patient wating for open shots and stuff like that, finding a better shot, and we've all just grown so close to each other. So, I think we've all gotten a lot better.
What was the best part of this experience?
It's just a cool experience to share this with 11 other girls, and the fact that we all got so close and that we are like a family, it's cool.
Reshanda Gray
(Washington Prep H.S./Los Angeles, Calif.)
What does it feel like to win a gold medal after training and competiting for almost three weeks?
If feels great. We worked so hard for three weeks, two practice sessions a day. It just feels good, and it's a great experience to have the gold medal.
What was the best part of this experience?
The whole thing was great, so I really don't have a best part.
Did you get better as a player?
Yeah, I had my ups and downs, but I made it through it. I had a great time here.
Cassie Harberts(San Clemente H.S./San Clemente, Calif.)
How does it feel to win the gold medal?
Surreal. It hasn't really hit right now, but it was really excited. We're really excited. We worked really hard for it, and we're just glad we got the gold.
Do you feel like you met the high expectations for this team?
Not in the first half tonight, we didn't. At halftime, Coach told us that we need to meet our expectations and our goals, and we came out ready in the second half.
How do you feel about this whole experience?
It was huge. I mean, coming to play for your country isn't something you can do everyday. It's just an amazing experience.
What was it like watching the clock tick down at the end of the game?
Really to not give up yet, because Coach would yell at us. But we won the gold, and it was really exciting.
Bria Hartley(North Babylon H.S./North Babylon, N.Y.)
How does it feel to win the gold medal?
This feels great. It's everything we've all been working toward. We earned it. We finally got a gold medal.
Does this feeling compare to what you thought it'd be?
No, definitely not. It's even better than I thought it would be.
What was working for you in tonight's game?
I would say just running the system and doing what coach wanted me to do, and just going out there and just playing my game.
What's this entire experience been like for you?
I definitely learned a lot from Coach Rizzotti and the whole staff. And then I got to know a bunch of new teammates. I just had a great experience.
Malina Howard
(Twinsburg H.S./Twinsburg, Ohio)
On tonight's game:
We knew that we were playing for the gold medal, and that's what we wanted. We had to play as hard as we could to get it. We knew that we could go out there and beat them, but we wanted to have pride and play well.
What does it feel like to win a gold medal?
It feels great. It's an amazing feeling. It's like nothing ever before to know that you won a gold medal for your country. Even if it's not at the highest level it's still important, and it feels great.
What will you take from this experience?
This experience gave me a lot more confidence in myself that I know I can do what I want to do when I want to do it. And knowing that I can come together and be a team leader and someone to push the team to go harder.
Alexis Jones
(MacArthur H.S./Irving, Texas)
What does it feel like to win a gold medal?
It feels good to have my first gold medal with the U18s. It feels really good.
Are you proud of the way this USA team played?
I think we came a long way from two-a-day practices to now finally reaching our goal. We finally made it. I think we came together really strong in our last game, and I hope to see everybody next year.
Ally Malott
(Madison H.S./Middletown, Ohio)
How does it feel to be a gold-medalist?
It feels incredible. We've been here for 20 days and have put in all the hard work, and this is what our goal was. It just feels awesome.
What's it like to see all the hard work pay off?
I've had a lot of fun, and I'm going to miss the people here. I've made so many new friends and hopefully I'll stay in contact with them and maybe see them next year. So, yeah, I'm excited to go home, but I'm also sad to leave.
How do you feel the team played against Brazil?
In the first half, we looked really sluggish, kind of like we were just going through the motions and not really playing with a purpose. But Coach got on us at halftime and fired us up, and I thought we came out with great energy in the second half.
What was it like watching the clock tick down, knowing you were finally going to get the gold medal?
It was amazing, because every athlete dreams of winning a gold medal. It's an awesome feeling.
Kayla McBride
(Villa Maria Academy/Erie, Pa.)
What does it feel like to win a gold medal?
We've been here for three weeks, and knowing that we were all physically and mentally tired coming into this game, I think it really brought us together. To be able to get this gold medal after being here for so long, coming together as a team is just an awesome feeling. It's one of many, like coach said in the locker room, and this is only the begining. We have so much to accomplish and have such bright futures ahead of us, this is just one of many hopefully, and it's really exciting.
What was the most fun part of this experience?
I think growing as a player, honestly. There was so much adversity with trials and the cuts and everything, and just being able to push through and grow as a player and as a person with these awesome athletes. It's just an unbelievable feeling.
Chiney Ogwumike(Cy-Fair H.S./Cypress, Texas)
How does it feel to be a gold-medalist?
It feels remarkable, unbelievable, like our hard work was finally enough for what it took to be here right now. So it's really awesome. We were here for, what, 20 days? And we had a goal, we had a mission, and we attained it. It's a moment that I'll always remember.
Does this compare to what you thought it'd be like?
No, it doesn't. Like, when the game ran out, I was looking at the last few seconds like, 'Oh, my gosh. We actually did it. It's finally coming to an end.' It's bittersweet. Of course, we're happy that we attained our goal, but this is the last time for all of us to be together for a while. So it's a great moment for us and for our country.
As a team, I think we met our expectations. Lots of people questioned us and our abilities, but we just ended up together, and we can be unstoppable when we compare ourselves to the best we can be.
Cassie Peoples(Cy-Fair H.S./Houston, Texas)
What does it feel like to win a gold medal?
It's a dream come true to win a gold medal. It's just a great feeling.
How has this experience helped you?
This experience has definitely helped me see what I need to work on. It's also given me that extra experience that some people may not have.
Did you enjoy this experience?
I definitely had a lot of fun. I think I did learn a lot, as far as becoming a team player and being able to play a certain role. I did learn a lot.
Theresa Plaisance(Vandebilt Catholic H.S./Marerro, La.)
What does it feel like to win a gold medal?
It feels amazing. Nothing can compare to this feeling. This just tops them all. Winning your first gold medal, much less any gold medal, is a great feeling, and it's just awesome to come out here and represent your country and win for you country.
What was the most fun part of this experience?
Probably getting to know all these people. I have great coaches and great teammates, and I couldn't have picked a better team. These kids are great, and I loved every moment I had with these people.
USABasketball.com is part of the NBA network of websites.