Additional Quotes >> USA 112, Brazil 53

Aug. 14, 2011• Shenzhen, China

Bill Fennelly, USA head coach (Iowa State University)
On this morning's game:
I'm glad we finally got a chance to play. I think I was more nervous than the players, to be honest with you. It's nice to get everyone involved and get our first win. Overall, I thought the last 16 minutes of the first half we really played well. We defended and shared the ball. We had scrimmaged Brazil, and to the players' credit they played with a lot of emotion even though I think they knew we probably should have won the game. It was exciting to finally put the uniform on and get started. Our goal is to win every quarter, and we won four quarters today. I was pleased overall.

On the USA's depth sparking a run in the first quarter:
We have 12 great players. You feel like you can wear people down at times, and the balance is how those players that come in and out of the game get into a rhythm, so you have to be careful. We wanted to keep attacking, and all of these players deserve a chance to play. In a game like this, where the pace is up and down, you want to keep everyone fresh. I think the strength of our teams historically is one through 12, the USA is usually deeper than most teams, and certainly that was the case today.

Our starters got off to a little bit of a slow start, and the score was 6-6. Next thing you know it's 25-6. Everyone had a chance to contribute, and the thing we have told our team is, 'find a way to impact success.' It might be coming off the bench, but they are all going to get to play and they all need to find a way to help.

On the USA's shooting:
We couldn't make shots early. They came out in a zone, and we had a lot of good looks at the basket that we didn't capitalize on. We need to make shots, and we need to make free throws. When you win going away, your focus on the little things can slip -- you are a little loose with the ball, you don't guard every time and maybe you don't step up the free throw line with that same sense of urgency. Those are things that all of these players can do and it's not anything to worry about too much, but it is something that in closer games, which are coming, that we have to be better at.

(Shekinna) Stricklen came off the bench and really lit up the 3-point line. Shooting is contagious. Everyone was missing, so we were a little hesitant. All of the sudden Strick knocked one in, and I think we made 5-of-6 after that. We shot our way out of their zone.

On the third quarter:
I think the biggest thing is to not be complacent. Sometimes you have to play against the game, not against the opponent. It's a 40-point lead, and I've never given a great 40-point-lead-at-halftime speech, and we came in third quarter and gave up 23 points. It's human nature a little bit, but we won the quarter by five points and that is the thing I've been trying to focus the team on. We mixed up our lineup a bit, tried to rest a few people. The main thing in a game like this is that you want everyone to get in so they get a chance to get a feel for this event and hopefully do some good things. Overall, I thought everyone contributed, and that's what you want.

Elena Delle Donne (University of Delaware)
On tonight's game:
We weren't hitting our shots at first. Definitely we were getting a feel for the court, and I think we opened it up after that. We started hitting shots and running.

On the third quarter:
When you are up like we were, sometimes your focus does go a little bit. Defensively we let them score too much in the third quarter. They scored 23 points, which was more than they scored in the entire first half. So, we really need to focus in on that, grab rebounds and finish plays.

On the USA's depth:
It's amazing because we are subbing in and out, and everyone plays so well together. We're reading each other, and I feel like every game it's going to get better as we get more and more used to playing with each other. This team is full of amazing players, and it's so much fun to play with them.

What did if feel like to play in your first international game?
It's different. It was awesome. It's fast-paced, and it's just phenomenal playing with these players. They are so incredible, and when you make a pass you know that they are going to finish. Everyone was finding each other, and it's just a great team. With one game under my belt, I feel a lot better about international rules and all of the little things that are different. My teammates have been helping me out.

Lynetta Kizer (University of Maryland)
On tonight's game:
I think everybody was excited and ready to play, and I think we were a little anxious. We had to get the nerves out before we finally started clicking. It was kind of a slow start, but we came together and got rolling. It felt amazing to play in our first game, just knowing how much work everybody had put in to come out here and represent our country. It was amazing to step on the court with these women, and we are ready to start winning some games.

On the third quarter:
We lost some focus. Sometimes when you get a big lead, you play to the score and loose your fundamentals and the things that coach has taught us to do pretty much all summer. It was a lack of focus and lack of communication, but it was something that we can control and correct.

On Opening Ceremonies:
That was just amazing to see all of the other cultures and how they showed their spirit for their country and how we showed our spirit for our country. It was definitely a first-time experience for me. It was cool to see, and it was a great feeling. I was just amazed at all of the love that was going around the arena, and it was a beautiful ceremony.

Nneka Ogwumike (Stanford University)
What did if feel like to play in the first game of the tournament?
It was amazing. We were in awe last night when we went to watch the men's team play, and we were really excited. We weren't actually expecting a full crowd, but it seemed like everybody was there. Playing in this arena is a lot of fun, and obviously stepping on the court with U-S-A on your chest is an amazing feeling.

On tonight's game:
We are really trying to focus on staying together and being focused. We have a lot of players that haven't played internationally before, and I think the feeling that you get on the court is a little different than back home and people were still getting used to that. It took us a few minutes today, but we got it started about halfway through the first quarter. Coming out with a lot of intensity will be a huge focus for us moving forward.

On the USA's depth:
It's so much fun. It's not often at all that you get to play with the people that you are usually playing against. I've never had this much talent on a team before, and you really have to embrace the experience because you never know if you will be able to get to do this again. I'm just really happy with the team. We are focused on collaborating and being a unit, and I'm excited for five more games.

On the third quarter:
They had 17 points at halftime, and they scored 23 in the third. I think we just lost our focus. Coach talked about how sometimes teams play to the scoreboard and don't play against the game. We need to win every quarter. Doesn't matter what the score is. We strayed a little bit away from that, but we are going to work to stay focused.

On Opening Ceremonies:
Oh my gosh, that was an experience I will never forget. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced. When people say that this is like a mini-Olympics, or it's comparable to the Olympics, they are not lying. Walking out with all of my teammates and all of the U.S. athletes with our outfits on and the American flag, it was an experience of a lifetime. I had a lot of fun. China did so much to prepare for these games, and it was beautiful.

Shekinna Stricklen (University of Tennessee)
On tonight's game:
It felt great to get out on the court. I'm not going to lie I was a little bit nervous, but I think everyone was. Once we got on the court, we were just so excited seeing the crowd. It was fun. I feel like we were a little too excited starting off. Then, we finally settled down and started running our offense and picked up our defense.

On making four 3-pointers in the second quarter:
My shots were just falling, and my teammates were looking to find me. I was able to set up and knock down the shots. It felt really good.

On the third quarter:
We lost our focus in the third quarter when we were up by 40 points. We picked it up again in the fourth quarter, but as a team we are going to have to stay together and stay focused and play each quarter like it's 0-0.