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Tuesday, September 19
Past accomplishments pale to Olympic berth
Associated Press
The mere thought of taking part in the world's greatest sports
spectacle is enough to leave Kara Wolters shivering with
anticipation.
Wolters is one of six members of the U.S. women's basketball
team who'll be playing in the Olympics for the first time. They've
added a new wave of enthusiasm and some valuable skills on the
court.
"They're hungry," U.S. coach Nell Fortner said. "They've
brought a hunger and that's important."
|  | | Griffith, left, was second in the WNBA in rebounding this season. |
The first-timers have pumped the veterans for information. They
want to know what it's like to march in the opening ceremony and to
play on a world stage. They asked Teresa Edwards, who'll be playing
in her fifth Olympics, what it's like to stand on the awards
platform with a gold medal draped around your neck.
"She said it was like a drug," Wolters said. "You just want
more and more. That's why she keeps coming back."
Chamique Holdsclaw, Natalie Williams, Yolanda Griffith, Katie
Smith and DeLisha Milton are the other first-time Olympians, all of
them accomplished players.
Wolters and Holdsclaw both were national players of the year in
college and played on NCAA championship teams. Williams helped UCLA
win two national titles in volleyball and was an All-American in
basketball.
Yet such is the aura of the Olympics that even players of their
stature go in with childlike enthusiasm.
"This is just awesome," Wolters said. "Every day I come to
practice I think, 'Gosh, I get to play with the best in the world
every day and we're going to the Olympics.' Wooo, it gives me the
chills."
What could move Holdsclaw after winning three NCAA championships
at Tennessee, two national player-of-the-year trophies and the
WNBA's rookie-of-the-year award? Going to Sydney, that's what.
"It's like my dream is about to become a reality," Holdsclaw
said. "It's like all of your hard work is right there before you
and in three weeks, all of this that we put in, we're going to see
if it's been worth it. Everything we've put into it is on the line
now."
Four of the newcomers are inside players: Wolters, Williams,
Griffith and Milton. Williams led the WNBA in rebounding this year
and Griffith was second. Williams also was fourth in the league in
scoring and few players set a meaner pick.
Holdsclaw plays on the wing but can go inside as well. She made
the WNBA All-Star team and ranked in the top 10 in scoring and
rebounding. Smith, the WNBA's No. 2 scorer, brings outside shooting
and solid fundamental play. And yes, she's excited, too.
"This is my chance. It might be my only chance," Smith said.
"I want to take advantage of it, the whole experience of being
there, the opening ceremonies, everything, just the atmosphere. I
want to soak it up."
The U.S. team continues its Olympics preparation Saturday night
with a third straight exhibition game against Canada in Oakland,
Calif. The United States, the defending gold medalist, won the
first two handily, 81-40 in San Antonio and 70-31 in Dallas, and
the newcomers made an impact.
Griffith totaled 27 points and 12 rebounds, Williams 18 points
and 11 rebounds. Holdsclaw and Smith each scored 16 points and all
four started both games. Milton, delayed by the WNBA playoffs, was
not with the team for the two games.
"We came back because we want to feel what we felt back in
'96," Olympic veteran Dawn Staley said. "The first-timers want to
feel those same things. But you have to go through it yourself to
really appreciate it. They live vicariously through us right now,
but they'll have their own experiences and they're going to be
great."
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