USA Women Ballers Are Beijing Bound

When the Olympics kick off in Beijing next summer, the three time defending Olympic champion US women ballers will be marching into the stadium.

Team USA completed their business trip in Valdivia, Chile by beating down the Cubans 101-71 in the finals of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship for Women to take the gold medal. More importanly they clinched the FIBA Americas Zone automatic Olympic berth.

The number one team in FIBA's world basketball rankings started their run to the title on September 26 in shaky fashion. In their Group B opener the Cubans actually led our girls 34-33 at halftime and were up 58-55 at the end of the third quarter thanks to center Yakelyn Plutin-Pizon's game-high 23 points.

With the Chilean crowd at Antonio Azuermendy Arena loudly cheering for the Cubans the entire game, Sue Bird led the final Team USA charge to victory over Fidel's Belles with five minutes left in the game. She dished out 9 assists to fuel the three point shooting barrage from Tina Thompson, Katie Smith and Diana Taurasi to cap a 30 point fourth quarter surge that helped them escape with an 85-79 win.

Candace Parker led Team USA with 21 points, Diana Taurasi chipped in 16 on 4 for 7 three point shooting, Tina Thompson (my girl) and Katie Smith both finished the game with 13 points.

Team USA showed no love to the Jamaicans during their September 27 Group B game. Seimone Augustus was one of five Team USA players in double figures as she led all scorers with 19 points in the 115-47 victory. Tina Thompson scored 18 points, Diana Taurasi chipped in 12 with Sue Bird and Kara Lawson scoring 11 each. Every Team USA player scored as Coach Anne Donovan rested the starters. Ms. Deux's favorite player Cappie Poindexter got significant minutes in this one. She contributed 6 points in her 20 minutes of action as Team USA moved to 2-0 in Group B preliminary round play.

On September 28 it was No Canada as Team USA sprinted off to a 38-18 first quarter lead, held our neighbors to only six points in the second quarter and took a 59-24 halftime lead. The commanding 85-37 win secured their spot in the semifinal round as they finished Group B play with a 3-0 record.

11 of the 12 Team USA players contributed buckets as everybody got playing time. Tina Thompson led all scorers with 14 points with Delisha Milton-Jones and Candace Parker chipping in 12 apiece.

In the Semifinal round on September 29 Team USA took on Argentina, who finished second in Group A behind the Brazilians. The Argentinians were probably saying 'no mas' on their way to the locker room as Team USA's stifling defense and torrid shooting propelled them to a 58-15 halftime lead.

This time it was Rebekkah Brunson doing the damage as she took only 18 minutes to score 20 points on 7 of 9 shooting and grab 6 rebounds. Cappie Poindexter chipped in 5 points along with the 3 steals and 7 assists she dished out as all Team USA players scored for the second time in this tournament. Candace Parker, Seimone Augustus and Katie Smith were also in double figures with 17, 15 and 11 points. Delisha Milton-Jones chipped in 6 assists to go with her 8 points and 5 rebounds in her 17 minutes of work as the 104-53 spanking vaulted them into the championship game.


In the final that was played today, one of Team USA's missions in addition to winning the game was shutting down eventual tournament MVP Yakelyn Plutin-Pizon. She lit up the Brazilians for 28 points enroute to the Cubans 69-67 semifinal win that propelled them into the FIBA Americas Tournament for Women Gold medal game and a rematch with Team USA.

Team USA made sure there wasn't going to be a repeat of their opening round nail biter. They held Plutin-Pizon to 11 points on 4 for 11 shooting as they raced to a 29-13 lead at the end of the first quarter and expanded it to a 49-30 margin at the break. Tina Thompson led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed six rebounds. Diana Taurasi had a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Kara Lawson was 4 for 7 from three point range as she finished with 14 points. Candace Parker contributed 12 points and Katie Smith scored 15 in the Gold medal game.

In the bronze medal game the Brazilians shook off a slow start and cruised to a 71-41 win over Argentina. Team Canada finshed fifth by beating the host Chileans 86-68.

Team USA's future is so bright we'll need shades. Candace Parker, Seimone Augustus, Diana Taurasi, Rebekkah Brunson and Cappie Poindexter made significant contributions along with the vets.

Team USA also looks forward to the return of center Lisa Leslie, who's still getting in playing shape after missing the 2007 WNBA season to have a baby. While our players stay sharp (and hopefully injury free) during the 2008 WNBA season, the silver medallist Cubans, the Brazilians and the Argentinians get one final chance to qualify for Beijing next summer at the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Looking forward to next summer's Olympic Games basketball tournaments already.