Blood, sweat and tears.

For female athletes, that four syllable expression often conjures a vision of striving to succeed in the sport she loves, hoping to one day fulfill dreams of competing at the highest level. In basketball, there is the highest level -- the WNBA -- and then there is the highest honor -- playing for Team USA in the Olympics.

Kara Lawson

"When you play in the WNBA, you are representing your organization and your city," Kara Lawson said in her SacramentoMonarchs.com Q&A. "But this is the entire country and what this country stands for. That’s the major difference. I think when you’re representing your country it's a lot more important than basketball. If you look at the big picture when you put on a USA uniform, you’re representing the country to the world."

Having won more games than any other team over the past five years and poised for another great season, it may come as little surprise that Sacramento boasts three players who have played with the U.S. Women's Senior National Team -- the premier USA women's team -- in the past nine months. Those players are Kara Lawson, Rebekkah Brunson and rookie Laura Harper.

"I think it says that we have been a successful franchise for awhile and players have been developing well," Monarchs head coach Jenny Boucek said. "I also think they are very attractive because they are such great teammates. I have had a number of people tell me since they spent time with the USA team, just what incredible people, teammates and players they are. Coaches want that and that makes a difference. When all else is even those things make a huge difference, so they represented who we are very well."

Laura Harper

All three players are grateful for the opportunity to put on the red, white and blue threads, even if they aren't on the final roster come August.

"I like to look at it like people who fight for their country and what kind of honor that is for representing America on behalf of everyone else," Harper said. "USA always selects 12, a representation of the best talent or the best team. To be selected amongst them even for whatever role I had [in the Good Luck Beijing Tournament], it was just an honor. I knew I was going to do it regardless because of how good it feels to wear a USA across your chest."

"I hope it becomes a reality for me," Brunson added. "Just knowing that I am one of those players they are looking at to represent the county, it is still a great accomplishment. So I feel like even if I don’t actually make the team, I am in a good position to maybe make it next time."

But, all three women agree, being on the Olympic squad in China would be sweet.

"It'd be a dream-come-true," Lawson said. "I don’t think there are enough superlatives out there to describe what it would feel like to have that opportunity. As a kid, I know for me, the first athletic role models I can remember were Olympians."

Rebekkah Brunson

Dedicated to stifling defense, like the Monarchs, Team USA will hang its gold medal hopes on disrupting potent offenses from all over the world.

"If we can defend and force teams into missed shots we can get out and run," Lawson said. "And that’s when this team is at its best -- when we’re defending at a high level and when we’re getting out and running the ball in transition."

Having reached the highest level of professional women's basketball was the beginning for these Monarchs. Sure, their fate for August rests in the hands of the eight person USA Senior National Team Committee which is expected to name some of the players selected to the Olympic team as early as this month, while other players will be monitored throughout the WNBA season. Regardless of what happens, all three will continue to play the same way they have been playing.

"Everything is not always great for the premier athletes, but most of us only see the greatness," Harper said thoughtfully. "The blood, sweat and tears are the steps to being great. The ones who've been through it all -- the injuries, cramps, missing shots to being able to make them, the workouts when nobody is watching. To me that’s what that means. It is very motivating."