Prior to heading to Athens to defend their Olympic gold medal, members of the U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball team talk about team chemistry, representing the U.S., their expectations about Greece, the competition and what it would be like to take home Olympic gold.

Van Chancellor, Houston Comets

Q: What do you need to do to keep up your momentum toward success in Athens?
Chancellor: We better get five or six player ready to go and we better cut the rotation down. We better get a cohesive offensive unit. We’re going to be good enough defensively because we could just pressure people. But offensively, we played the whole game without Sheryl (Swoopes) and Katie (Smith) and those are the two players who have been with me through China, through spring training and that hurt us too a little bit.

Q: Have you sized up the competition that you will face during the Olympics? And if so, where do you think this team stands against some of your stiffer competition?
Chancellor: Right now we need practice, but we knew that when we started. We’re okay. We have Russia, we have Australia, the Czech Republic, Brazil -- they’re awfully good. We’re not ready for that. But we have 20 days to get ready. We’re going to practice and play and get ready for the games. All we need is some time. Time together, time to play, trying to get us healthy.

Q: But what is your stiffest competition once you get ready and get to Athens?
Chancellor: The same teams I just mentioned: Russia, Brazil, Australia. Czech Republic is big, young and good and they don’t know we’re the USA. They’ve played against us so we don’t have a reputation. When you have a young team you don’t have a reputation with them, they don’t know any better. They’re just going to come to play.

Lisa Leslie, Los Angeles Sparks

Q: What would you say about the chemistry of this team at this point?
Leslie: Obviously we have to build on our chemistry, having 20-plus turnovers shows that we don’t quite have that chemistry yet, but it’s our first exhibition game since the WNBA season ended and we’ll continue to get better. We have a few days to go play against Spain and France. We have to take much better care of the ball and just continue to make that extra pass.

Q: What do you think of the team’s chances?
Leslie: Our chances are always good. It may look a little grim right now, but we’ll get it together. The target is on our head right now. The hardest part about being Team USA is that everybody brings their best against you. You saw what happened with the men. That’s what happens. We’re used to that level of competition and we have to continue to raise our level.

Sue Bird, Seattle Storm

Q: Why was The Game at Radio City a good tune-up for the Olympic Squad?
Bird: Those WNBA players are good. Even though they’re a team that hasn’t played together, they’re athletic, they know how to play and they’re talented, so for us, it’s a really good send-off game, to get one in before heading overseas.

Q: How important is it to build chemistry?
Bird: It’s important. I think the great thing about this team is everybody knows their role. Coach pretty much lays it out. Everyone is very comfortable with it, and everyone tries to fulfill it, and that’s how chemistry builds. The more we play together and the more we practice, it will certainly help us heading into Greece.

Q: Is it gold medal or bust in Greece?
Bird: I believe so. Not “or bust” but all the expectations say gold medal, and the expectations we have for ourselves say gold medal.

Swin Cash, Detroit Shock

Q: How excited are you to be on the Olympic Team?
Cash: It’s an exciting time for me right now being young – only 24 years old. To be accomplishing so much at a young age, I just feel very blessed and honored. I’m going to soak everything up; I’m just going to be a sponge and hopefully learn a lot and win a gold medal.

Q: Has it hit you yet that you’re going to be playing in the Olympics? What do you anticipate?
Cash: It hasn’t quite hit me yet. I think I’m starting to get a little anxious about playing and the itch to play in the Olympics, but at the same time I’m just really happy to go over there, to experience the whole atmosphere of the Olympics, playing with some of the best players in the world. Going up against some of the best players in the world is definitely going to be a feat for me. It’s a tribute to how far women’s basketball has come in America.

Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury

Q: Can you talk about playing for the United States and wearing USA on your jersey?
Taurasi: It’s just a great honor. There’s one thing to play for a WNBA team or a college team, but you’re playing for a whole country. To be selected to be on this team is just an honor. Only 12 got to be on this team so it definitely is an honor.

Q: How excited are you and the team to be going to Athens?
Taurasi: As a team, we’re excited. We’re looking forward to going out there and getting a gold medal. But, we know it’s going to take a lot of practice and a lot of work. It starts when we go out to Spain.

Q: What’s it been like playing with Sue Bird and Swin Cash again?
Taurasi: It’s great. We played together for two years and we get on the court and it feels like the same thing. It’s definitely fun playing with them.

Q: Did you ever think about that last season that you’d be back playing together again?
Taurasi: It’s funny how life’s full circle. We all go our different ways, different WNBA teams and, now, what is it, four or five years later and we’re all back on the same team.

Q: Is it different being the new person after dominating at UConn?
Taurasi: Every situation, I’m the rookie of everything, the new kid on the block. It’s just fun though. I’ve had great people around me, it’s definitely been enjoyable.

Q: Personally, do you feel like you’re living up to your expectations?
Taurasi: I don’t really put expectations on myself or write goals. I just go out there and play. That’s all I can do. So, as long as I’m out there and doing as much as I could, that’s all I could expect.

Yolanda Griffith, Sacramento Monarchs

Q: How do you feel about being selected for the team to represent the USA at the Olympics?
Griffith: I feel honored. Being able to represent our country in 2000 and win a gold medal and again in 2004, it’s a dream come true. A lot of people are not fortunate to get a chance to represent their country so I’m going to do the best I can to help us win the gold, three in a row.

Q: Does it help to have clusters of teammates who have experience playing with each other when building team chemistry for the Olympics?
Griffith: In 2000 we trained for a very long time so we had that chemistry. It’s just a matter of us adjusting to each other and there is no excuse. We know how to make passes, we know how to hit easy shots, we know how to rebound and play defense. We were just playing a little unselfish and it cost us some turnovers. We don’t have a lot of time to prepare so everyday is important and we have to come and bring our A game.