ATHENS, August 28 - Unlike on the men’s side, the traditional powers in Olympic Women’s Basketball reaffirmed their lofty status in Athens, where the United States repeated as champion, Australia repeated its silver medal and Russia took away the bronze medal from Brazil in their third-place game.
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| Shannon Johnson #4 of the USA in action as Alicia Poto #4 of Australia watches on in the gold medal in the women's basketball gold medal match between United States of America and Australia on 28/08/2004 |
USA won its third straight gold and fifth in seven Olympic appearances since Women’s Basketball made its debut in Montreal 1976. USA has never played in an Olympics without earning a medal. It won silver in Montreal 1976 and bronze in Barcelona 1992. USA did not participate in Moscow 1980.
To say that the favorites made it easily to the final game is a little misleading, because Russia showed it can challenge even USA, losing by just four points in their semifinal.
It remains true, however, that four countries – USA, Australia, Russia and Brazil – share 11 of the 12 medals awarded in women’s basketball between Barcelona and Athens.
Not only has the USA team dominated since Atlanta 1996 – extending its unbeaten streak in the Olympics to 25 games in Athens – but with the USA victory over Australia by 74-63 on Saturday at Olympic Indoor Arena, three collected their third consecutive gold medals.
Lisa LESLIE, Dawn STALEY and Sheryl SWOOPES all made major contributions to become the only players in women’s basketball besides their former teammate, Teresa EDWARDS, to surpass two gold medals. EDWARDS has four. STALEY, who was also the USA flagbearer at the opening ceremonies in Athens, announced her retirement from the national team after Saturday’s victory.
LESLIE led the champions with 15.3 points per game, while Tina THOMPSON followed her with 14.1 on average.
Defense was the key in the final, however, as USA stopped the tournament’s top scorer with 22.9 points per game, Lauren JACKSON of Australia. Mfon UDOKA of Nigeria, which finished 11th, was the tournament’s second best scorer, averaging 21.7 points.
Russia made good on its resurgence, which included a five-point loss to USA in the last World Championships final, by winning bronze, its first medal since gold as the Unified Team in 1992.
With its 71-62 victory over Brazil for bronze, Russia ended Brazil’s streak of medals at two, silver in Atlanta 1996 and bronze at Sydney 2004. The Brazilians had begun the tournament by setting an Olympic record in scoring with 128 points against Japan, and tying the best winning margin ever, 66 points, in the same game.
Otherwise, the Women’s Basketball tournament offered some interesting sidelights:
Czech Republic finished fifth in its first Olympics despite not having the best player from its 2003 European Championships second-place team. Spain, also playing in the first Olympics it had qualified for, took sixth place. Another Olympic newcomer, host Greece, battled all the way to seventh place, while New Zealand posted its best finish by far, eighth.
"It was a tough game but we pulled out the win. Even though our aim was the gold, right now I'd take anything. Playing for third hurts a little, but at least we go home with something. Because Tim Duncan is a great player and draws the defenses' attention, I got some open shots against their zone and knocked down."
Larry BROWN, Head Coach (USA)
On the game:
"It's the hardest game I've ever been involved in as a coach, and I bet my players will tell you the same. I'm proud of the way the guys played after the loss to Argentina. They showed a lot of class and character against an experienced team that executed amazingly and hit 21 three-pointers, a team that almost beat us in Sydney, and I hope people will understand that."
On the way of selecting team USA:
"I don't like this to sound tlike sour grapes. We selected a great team, with guys that showed such character under difficult circumstances. They showed commitment and self-sacrifice, and although things haven't been easy, coaching them was an honor. We have to re-examine our selection process, because the level of playing and coaching around the world has improved so much."
On differences between the NBA and international competition:
"I don't understand why we don't use the same set of rules all over the world. We got some rules from FIBA, they got some from us. But in terms of officiating, it's like a different game. Tim DUNCAN was in foul trouble in every single game. And I don't know why teams don't play 48 minutes in international competition."
Sarunas JASIKEVICIUS, Guard (LTU)
"We did well in offense and shot the ball well, but in defense we made mistakes and we allowed many shots in the paint. Credit to the United States, they improved with every game. You can't win all the time and fourth place is good for a country like ours, but still, losing the last two games of the tournament is hard to take."
Antanas SIREIKA, Head Coach (LTU)
"Congratulations to the United States for winning the bronze medal. They deserved to win, as they got better and better with games and certainly were a far better team than in our first game. It is painful to lose the last two games, but I think we prepared for the game in a logic way and I have no complaints against my players."
