Women's Olympic Basketball Finals

The USA Women's Basketball Team captured its third straight Olympic Gold Medal by defeating the Australian women's basketball team, 92-65, on Saturday. Led by 4-time Olympian Lisa Leslie and 3-time Olympian Tina Thompson, the USA Women's Basketball Team produced an onslaught that even the Australian team could not control, with wave after wave of excellent play from the USA women coming off the bench. For stats on the game, visit the NBC Olympics site.

USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team - The "Dream Team"

While there's been much talk about the USA Men's Basketball Team as the "Dream Team" and the "Redeem Team," for me the true Dream Team of this Olympics has been the USA Women's Basketball Team. I don't follow the WNBA games but I am a fervent Women's College Basketball fan - and particularly an Southeastern Conference Women's College Basketball Fan. These USA Women's Olympic Basketball Games have been a treat for me. Why? Because one of Anne Donovan's favorite off-the-bench lineups for the Olympic Games has been Sylvia Fowles (LSU), Simone Augustus (LSU), Tamika Catchings (Tennessee), Kara Lawson (Tennessee), and Candace Parker (Tennessee).

The match-ups have been even more entertaining when former college rivals Diana Taurasi (UConn) and Sue Bird (UConn) and Cappie Poindexter (Rutgers), former players from the Big East, join the mix of former Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball players. These names are some of the best of the best the women's college game has enjoyed in the past few years and to see them on the same team playing in different combos together has been pure enjoyment.

USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team - Notable Players

My favorite players of the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team are an aggressive Kara Lawson who brought it all with her every time she stepped on the floor and an emotional and talented team leader Lisa Leslie who becomes the first basketball player to win 4 consecutive gold medals. Leslie led this team and left her heart and soul on the floor as she stepped off the Olympic stage for the last time with 14 points in this gold medal winning effort.

Much was made during several of the USA women's basketball games, by game commentators Ann Myers and Mike Breen, of the fact that Kara Lawson was the last player picked for the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team. During the gold medal game they referred to her as "the biggest surprise." Is this because they just ran out of things to talk about? It was a team of 12 of the USA's finest and somebody had to be the last player chosen. Lawson more than proved that she deserved the right to play for the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team and appeared to enjoy every minute of her Olympic experience. Lawson led Team USA with 15 points in this gold medal performance.

Candace Parker was also deemed by Ann Myers and Mike Breen to be "overwhelmed" at times by the Olympic experience. Maybe it was simply the freedom she had to contribute in a game and not have to worry about being the major contributor or carry the game for her team. Everyone on the USA Olympic Women's Basketball Team is a great player and had the right to be there. Parker followed Lawson with 14 points in the gold medal game with Australia.

Kudos to Sylvia Fowles for her excellent Olympic play. While Candace Parker is a lightning rod for press attention and discussion, Sylvia Fowles provided some exciting moments of her own throughout the series of Olympic games. Fowles played tough in the gold medal game, contributing 13 points.

USA Women's Basketball Team - Stellar Play in an Under-appreciated Sport

If you're one of those fans of the men's game who proclaims the women's basketball at the college or WNBA level to be - not basketball - I hope you at least appreciated the contribution of this team toward a medal for the USA. By the way, KUDOS to the USA Men's Olympic Basketball Team who do seem to appreciate the women's game and supported them all the way.

If you are a supporter of Women's College Basketball, I hope you enjoyed this "Dream Team" as much as I did. If you are a fan of the WNBA, I know you enjoyed the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team.

My appreciation and admiration go to all the women of the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team and their gold medal run in these 2008 Olympic Games.

I think I'll be checking out the WNBA to see how these ladies continue to do in the weeks ahead. And the upcoming women's college basketball season is just a few months away.

Sources:
Comments from NBC commentators, Mike Breen and Ann Myers, throughout the games played by the USA Women's Basketball Team.

Associated Press, "Headed Straight Four History: US Women Golden Again," NBCOlympics.com

My opinions formed from watching most every minute of these exciting and entertaining games played by the USA Women's Olympic Basketball Team.