NFL
By: Zach Draves
Few teams have had a dynasty run that the U.S. Women’s National Basketball Team.
They have won 8 Olympic gold medals and 10 FIBA World Championships and have produced some of the best talent in all of the game.
Now after a year of chaos due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the WNBA being confined to a bubble last August, Team USA is back on the court and seeking to obtain Olympic glory once again.
The team is headed by the legendary Dawn Staley, coach at the University of South Carolina and member of the 1996 Olympic team.
(Courtesy: WACH)
A renowned figure beyond the court who has cultivated an icon status all of her own and who has ushered in some of the most prominent names at the collegiate, international, and professional level including Aja Wilson whom she coached in 2017 at South Carolina and winning the national title.
Aja described the black women magic that is in full effect as part of her experience on the national team at this moment by having Coach Staley to be the first black woman to be the head coach of the national team and ushering in a renaissance of black women coaches at all levels of the game.
(Courtesy: NPR)
In addition, the team has the best of the best looking forward to playing at the highest level and returning to a sense of normalcy.
Jewell Lloyd of the Seattle Storm echoes that.
(Courtesy: USA Basketball)
“I look forward to getting back with the team and getting back to what we do” she said.
Her Seattle and USA teammate Brenna Stewart shares the same sentiment as well as the players’ commitment to continue to speak out on matters of social justice to which they have been at the forefront going back to 2016.
(Courtesy: High Post Hoops)
“We are going to continue using our platform and use our voice and continue to fight for change” said Brenna.
“The wubble is just the start.”
WNBA and Olympic veteran Tina Charles described what it means for her to continue to play at a high caliber as if she is just getting started.
(Courtesy: USA Basketball)
“I am looking forward to competing for a championship and my third gold medal” she said.
“I don’t take my position for granted.”
Tina is also adamant that the women’s team won’t relent when it comes to activism.
“This is just who we are and we have a platform” she said.
“It is going to be consistent.”
She also gave special recognition to the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) founded by Dr. Kimberlee Crenshaw that advocates for black women and girls killed in acts of police violence.
The WNBA partnered with AAPF in the wubble last season.
(Courtesy: WVPE)
Given that the USOPC recently announced that they won’t punish athletes for engaging in protest is a step forward in the right direction and creates a more open space for athletes to be more than athletes.
While the IOC still has Rule 50 in place that prohibits political protest and expression during the games itself, this new generation of Olympians is uncompromising in their principles and the U.S. Women’s Basketball Team perfectly embodies that
Every year they continue to make history and even in the midst of all the chaos and confusion the team is on par to achieve greatness again.
Team USA still going strong.
What else could you expect?
