26 Current and Former WNBA Players
Win Medals at 2008 Olympic Games

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2008 – The U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team defeated Australia in Saturday’s gold medal game in Beijing, bringing the total to 26 current or former WNBA players who earned medals at the 2008 Olympic Games. Russia defeated China for the bronze medal. The WNBA was heavily represented with 39 current and former players on Olympic rosters. In addition, a current or former player participated for 10 of the 12 countries in Beijing.

The United States has now won four consecutive Olympic gold medals and six of nine overall since women’s basketball debuted at the Olympics in 1976. With the victory, Anne Donovan became the first female to win a gold medal as a player and also lead a team to gold as head coach. Lisa Leslie, who boasts an unblemished 32-0 record over her 12-year Olympic career, has earned gold in an unprecedented four consecutive Olympic Games, which stands as the most by any female participant in Olympic team sports. Leslie is tied with Teresa Edwards as winning the most-ever gold medals in women’s basketball. Leslie earned her medals in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 while Edwards won gold in 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2000 plus bronze in 1992.

“My vision, my dream was to have four gold medals around my neck by the time we finished our last game here in Beijing,” said Leslie. “It’s just been awesome for me to experience this for the fourth time with such a great group. We’ve really just worked hard and hung our hats on our defense and our pressure. Offensively, the ball found the open player every single time we came down the floor. I thought we were the team who played the best basketball this whole Olympics. I feel so confident in where USA Basketball is going to go in the future.”

Each of the 12 members of the U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team won gold, led by Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks) and three-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Smith (Detroit Shock). Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury), DeLisha Milton-Jones (Los Angeles Sparks) and Tina Thompson (Houston Comets) all earned their second gold medal.

First-time Olympians and gold-medalists for the United States include rookie standouts Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) and Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky) as well as Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs), Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx) and Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury).

The silver medal-winning Australian Olympic Team featured eight current or former WNBA players, led by reigning WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson (Seattle Storm) and Tully Bevilaqua (Indiana Fever). Jackson, who will undergo routine arthroscopic surgery on her right ankle in Sydney this week, earned her third consecutive silver medal, having also come up just short to the U.S. in 2000 and 2004.

Becky Hammon (San Antonio Silver Stars) helped lead Russia to the bronze medal after defeating China.

The 2008 WNBA season will resume play on Aug. 28. A complete list of current and former WNBA players that earned Olympic medals follows.

WNBA MEDAL WINNERS

About the WNBA
Comprised of 14 teams and in the midst of its 12th season, the WNBA is the most successful women’s professional team sports league in the world. The 2008 season will re-launch on Thursday, Aug. 28 with five games and all eight playoff berths still undecided. The season tipped off May 17 with ESPN2 again providing appointment viewing in the form of its “WNBA Tuesdays” telecasts. During the 2008 season, combined coverage on ABC and ESPN2 will include 21 national telecasts, while NBA TV, the league’s 24-hour television network, will offer 70 regular-season contests.

Through WNBA Cares, the WNBA is deeply committed to creating programs that improve the quality of life for all people, with a special emphasis on programs that promote a healthy lifestyle and positive body image, increase breast and women’s health awareness, support youth and family development, and focus on education. For more information on the WNBA, log on to www.wnba.com.