As the ‘Road to Rio’ event kicked off in Times Square in New York today, a very special and confident guest kicked off the festivities. The First Lady, Michelle Obama, made a special appearance and instilled a sense of confidence to start the night by guaranteeing a gold medal coming home for Team USA.
“We’re not just here to talk about bringing home gold, which we will,” she said. “The Olympics is also about inspiring young people watching at home and getting them active … I also want young people to be inspired by these athletes’ stories of countless sacrifices and hardships overcome. If they work hard enough and dream big enough they can achieve what they want.”
Over 80 Olympians, Paralympians and Olympic hopefuls met with the media on 43rd and Broadway for announcements, guest speakers and one-on-one interviews. As United States Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said,
“Today is all about increasing interest in American athletes and introducing new opportunities to engage and interact with those athletes.”
The biggest announcement of the day came from USA Olympic Women’s Basketball coach Geno Auriemma as he announce the 12-player 2016 USA Olympic Women’s Basketball roster for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio highlighted by five former members of his Uconn Huskies dynastic collegiate program. Players on the roster were chosen by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee, chaired by Carol Callan.
Tamika Catchings, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi make a run for their fourth consecutive Olympic gold medals but the 2016 USA Olympic Women’s Basketball team has some new faces on its 12-player roster for Rio, which USA Basketball formally announced on Wednesday.
Chicago Sky star Elena Delle Donne, two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Brittney Griner and 2016 No. 1 WNBA draft pick Breanna Stewart will make their Olympic debuts this summer. Minnesota Lynx players Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles will compete for their third Olympic golds while 2012 Olympic gold medalists Tina Charles, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen round out the roster.
Talking about the first time attendees, team veteran Tamika Catchings said,
“I think it’s going to be great, you look at the talent they have individually — Elena as the (WNBA) MVP, Brittney Griner (as a) rookie, Breanna Stewart coming off such an amazing collegiate career and looking at the future of what she’ll bring to USA Basketball — I’m just excited because they’re such great people.”
Coming into her first selection, reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne said,
“I’m thrilled (to be named to the team), this has been unreal, and now that it’s finally been announced, it’s finally so real and it’s been fun experiencing this with my teammates.”
Most notably missing from the 2016 USA Olympic Women’s Basketball squad is two-time Gold Medalist Candace Parker. She was cut from the team but took the news in stride after she found out her fate yesterday. Parker could still potentially make the team as an alternate. With the WNBA season set to begin on May 14, there is a chance that one of the 12 members of the team could get injured before the Olympics.
I was surprised & disappointed to be left off the 2016 USA Olympic Team. But I wish all the members of the team GOODLUCK in Rio. #Gold
— Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) April 26, 2016
Thanks for the support I look forward to the upcoming WNBA season. #Sparks
— Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker) April 26, 2016
They don’t suit up until August but the 2016 USA Olympic Women’s Basketball team will open play against against Senegal on either Aug. 6 or Aug. 7 (all game times TBD), followed by the No. 4 team from the Olympic qualifier on Aug. 8, Serbia on Aug. 10, Canada Aug. 12, and the USA concludes preliminary round play on Aug. 14 against the No. 2 team from the Olympic qualifier.
