Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker Selected to U.S. Women�s Olympic Basketball Team

The initial U.S. roster also includes seven other WNBA stars: two-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Smith (Detroit Shock), 2004 Olympic gold medalists Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Tina Thompson (Houston Comets); and Olympic first-timers Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury) and Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky).

The USA Basketball Women�s Senior National Team Committee will continue to discuss the final three roster spots before finalizing the 12-member team by July 1.

�I am thrilled to have the opportunity to play in Beijing and to try to bring a fourth consecutive gold medal back to the United States,� Leslie said.

�I am honored to be selected to the U.S. team,� Parker said. �After winning another NCAA title at Tennessee and joining the Sparks, the Olympics will be yet another milestone in what has already been an exciting year.�

Olympic women�s basketball competition will be held Aug. 9-23. Preliminary play is scheduled for Aug. 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17; quarterfinal action takes place Aug. 19; semifinal play is slated for Aug. 21; and the women�s finals will be held Aug. 23.

The U.S. Women�s Olympic Team opens Aug. 9 versus an opponent to be determined through the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and next faces host China on Aug. 11, Mali on Aug. 13 and another opponent to be determined on Aug. 15. The U.S. finishes off its preliminary play Aug. 17 against New Zealand. All game times are still to be assigned.

Since women�s basketball was officially staged at the 1976 Olympics, the Americans have collected a record five gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal, while compiling a 42-3 (.933) overall record in seven Olympic appearances (the United States chose not to participate in the 1980 Olympic Games).

Anne Donovan is the U.S. Olympic team head coach. Sparks� General Manager Penny Toler is one of four WNBA representatives on the USA Basketball Women�s Senior National Team Committee.

With WNBA players involved in the Olympics, the league has not scheduled any games from July 28- Aug. 27. Instead, the WNBA season will be extended by three weeks. WNBA teams and players will remain active in their communities while on hiatus from regular-season action. Sparks players not competing in the Olympics will participate in a variety of community-based events and activities.

The second half of the Sparks� season will tip-off on Aug. 28 as they play host to the Sacramento Monarchs at STAPLES Center at 7:30 p.m. The regular-season schedule concludes Sept. 14 with the playoffs scheduled to begin on Sept. 18.

2008 U.S. Women�s Olympic Team Roster

*Three players TBD

Head Coach: Anne Donovan

Assistant Coach: Gail Goestenkors, University of Texas

Assistant Coach: Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina

Assistant Coach: Mike Thibault, Connecticut Sun