2012 USA Men’s and Women’s Olympic Teams Share USA Basketball’s 2012 Team of the Year Award

- Candace Parker represents Sparks on 2012 USA Women’s team -

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Jan. 10, 2013) – On the heels of gold-medal performances at the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as undefeated exhibition records leading up to London, USA Basketball today named its 2012 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic/National Teams as co-recipients of the 2012 USA Basketball Team of the Year award.

While the USA men stood atop the podium for a second-consecutive Olympic Games, the USA women captured an unprecedented fifth-straight Olympic gold medal.

“Winning a gold medal during an Olympic year, as far as USA Basketball is concerned, is the culmination of four years of hard work,” said USA women’s head coach Geno Auriemma (University of Connecticut). “So, for our men’s and women’s teams to be the team of the year is a reflection on the work USA Basketball does with all our partners. Every day, there are people working to make sure those four years end with a gold medal. I want to pass along congratulations to Coach K and the men’s team. They are just a bunch of super guys, and it was an honor and a thrill to be in London and watch them perform.”

 “The chemistry we had and the camaraderie we had on this year’s Olympic team, although we’ve had really camaraderie in the past, just seemed to be at the highest level,” said USA men’s coach Mike Krzyzewski (Duke University). “I actually thought we had even better camaraderie than any of the teams we played against, which is very unusual because those teams have been together for years, whether it be Spain, Argentina, Lithuania or France. Our guys really got along, and they had fun. I loved the fact that when the pressure was the most, they responded the best, and I think that was because they were such a close team.”

The USA Basketball Board of Directors is responsible for selecting USA Basketball’s annual coach, player and team of the year awards.

“We are proud to be able to celebrate two remarkable teams that won medals in London with outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship,” said Jim Tooley, USA Basketball Executive Director/CEO. “Both teams represented USA Basketball and our country with pride, class and dignity both on and off the court.”

This year’s announcement marks the 17^th time USA Basketball has presented the Team of the Year Award, which first was earned in 1996 by the historic USA Women’s National/Olympic Team.

The honor also has been earned by the 2011 USA Women’s U19 World Championship Team; the 2010 USA Men’s and Women’s FIBA World Championship Teams; the 2009 USA Men’s U19 World Championship Team; the 2008 U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic Teams; the 2007 USA Men’s Senior National Team and USA Women’s National Team; the 2006 Men’s Senior National Team; the 2005 USA Women’s FIBA U19 World Championship Team; 2000 and 2004 USA Women’s Senior National/Olympic teams; the 2003 USA World Championship for Young Women Team; the 1998 and 2002 USA Women’s World Championship squads; the 2001 USA World Championship For Young Men Team; 1999 USA Men’s Tournament of the Americas Team; and the 1997 USA Women’s Junior World Championship Team.

2012 U.S. Olympic/Women’s National Team

The 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team wrapped up an 8-0 record to capture a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics held July 28–Aug. 11 in London, England, and extended its Olympic winning streak to 41 games.

Led by Auriemma, the team included assistant coaches Doug Bruno (DePaul University), Jennifer Gillom (Washington Mystics) and Marynell Meadors, as well as Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Swin Cash (Chicago Sky), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Tina Charles (Connecticut Sun), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Asjha Jones (Connecticut Sun), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Maya Moore (Minnesota Lynx), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota Lynx).

“The Olympic team is always an amazing time in ones professional career,” Taurasi said. “Being able to share the court with such determined teammates, having one goal in hand and all giving in to that, is what USA basketball is all about.”

The USA topped teams by an average of 34.4 points per game during the Olympics and listed No. 1 in 15 of 19 major statistical categories among the 12-team field, including points averaged (90.6), field goal percentage (.484), rebounding margin (+17.2), blocked shots (41), assists (185), steals (84) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.67).

The squad recorded 2012 Olympic single-game highs for points scored (114), field goals made (52), field goals attempted (90), field goal percentage (.627), rebounds (62), assists (33), steals (15) and blocked shots (11).

The team also set all-time U.S. Olympic single-game records for points (tied), rebounds, field goals made, field goals attempted (tied), assists and blocked shots; as well as all-time U.S. Olympic competition records for field goals attempted (597), rebounds (404) and blocked shots (41).

As part of USA Basketball’s Hoops for Troops program, Auriemma and members of the USA Women’s National Team conducted a clinic for approximately 50 children of military members on July 14 at the D.C. Armory.

2012 U.S. Olympic/Men’s National Team

Playing July 29-Aug. 12 in London, England, the 2012 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team wrapped up an 8-0 record to capture a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics, and the squad earned a 5-0-exhibition record leading up to London.

Led by Krzyzewski, the team included assistant coaches Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Mike D’Antoni and Nate McMillan, as well as players Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks), Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers), Tyson Chandler (New York Knicks), Anthony Davis (New Orleans Hornets), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), James Harden (Houston Rockets), Andre Iguodala (Denver Nuggets), LeBron James (Miami Heat), Kevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) and Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets).

“I think what was special about our team was our camaraderie and the brotherhood that we had,” James said. “Not only did we enjoy each other while on the court, we all got along great off the floor as well. That friendship is what helped us come together, and made it feel easier knowing that we had that bond off the floor.”

The USA’s 156 points scored in a win against Nigeria on Aug. 2 were the most points scored by any team in Olympic Games history.

During Olympic play, the USA topped teams by an average of 32.1 points per game and listed No. 1 in six of 13 major statistical categories among the 12-team field, including points per game (115.5), field goal percentage (.523), 3-point percentage (.440), rebound average (44.6), steals per game (10.4) and assists per game (25.0).

Among 2012 Olympic single-game bests, the USA listed No. 1 in points scored (156), field goals made (59), field goal attempts (88), field goal percentage (.711), 3-pointers made (29), 3-point attempts (46, twice),
3-point percentage (.630), free throws made (28), free throw attempts (38), assists (41) and steals (17).

The team established all-time U.S. Olympic single-game records for points scored, field goals made, field-goal percentage, 3-pointers made, 3-pointers attempted and assists (tied).

Additionally, the team set all-time U.S. Olympic competition records for 3-pointers made (129), 3-pointers attempted (293), 3-point percentage (.440), rebounds (357, eight games) and highest rebound average (44.6).

As part of USA Basketball’s Hoops for Troops program, the USA Men’s National Team conducted an open practice for 3,100 military members and their families on July 14 at the D.C. Armory.

USA Basketball

Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA Basketball is a nonprofit organization and the national governing body for men's and women's basketball in the United States. As the recognized governing body for basketball in the U.S. by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), USA Basketball is responsible for the selection; training and fielding of USA teams that compete in FIBA sponsored international basketball competitions, as well as for some national competitions.

USA teams are the current men's and women's champions in the Olympics, men's and women's FIBA World Championships; women’s FIBA U19 World Champions; men's and women's FIBA U17 World Champions; and the men's and women's U18 and U16 FIBA Americas Championships; as well as the women’s FIBA 3X3 World Championship and 3x3 U18 World Championship.

USA Basketball also currently ranks No. 1 in all five of FIBA's world ranking categories, including combined, men's, women's, boys and girls.

Los Angeles Sparks

The Los Angeles Sparks, one of three original Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) teams from the inaugural 1997 campaign, will enter their 17th season in May 2013.  Back-to-back WNBA Champions in 2001 and 2002, Los Angeles is led by 2012 Coach of the Year Carol Ross and features 2008 WNBA MVP and Rookie of the Year Candace Parker, 2012 Rookie of the Year Nneka Ogwumike, 2012 Most Improved Player of the Year Kristi Toliver and four-time All-Star Alana Beard. The Sparks play their home games at STAPLES Center in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.  For ticket information, call 877-44-SPARKS (772757) or visit LASparks.com.