Breanna Stewart diary: Most important 40 minutes of my basketball life
Breanna Stewart, 21, is the youngest U.S. basketball player at the Rio Olympics. A star rookie for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm and the most acclaimed college player ever of either gender after winning four NCAA titles at UConn, she is writing about her Olympic experiences for Paste BN with the assistance of contributor Wayne Coffey.
RIO DE JANEIRO — I’ve been here for close to three weeks now, living on a boat with my teammates — some of the very best basketball players in the world. It’s been an extraordinary experience from the start, hanging out together in our lounge, playing cards, taking in Olympic events and being surrounded by so much athletic greatness.
Now we have one more game to play, for a gold medal, against Spain. In our final practice Friday, Coach Geno Auriemma reminded us that we have nine players on our team who have been here before — people whose skill and poise have helped the U.S. bring it home before. Coach also said we’re going to need all 12 players to get this done, and I will be ready to anything and everything to finish the job.
I’ve said this before, but we aren't taking anything for granted, and we are not underestimating anybody. As far as I’m concerned, the 40-point victory we had over Spain in pool play means nothing. They are going to come out hard and more determined than ever. They are going to want to slow down the game, make it a half-court affair. We, of course, want to be disruptive and get out and run and score points in a plethora of ways. I just hope my fellow UConn alum, and Seattle Storm teammate, the great Sue Bird, will be able to go. She suffered a knee sprain against Japan in the quarterfinals. I was really nervous seeing Sue get hurt, to see vulnerability in one of the greatest point guards ever — and knowing how much this experience means to her. I hope she can play, but I know Sue will make the smartest decision possible in what likely will be her final Olympic game.
I don’t turn 22 until the end of the month, and I’ve been fortunate to have been on a lot of gold medal podiums with USA Basketball, a lot of championship teams, but I don’t think anything can compare to what this would be like.
As great as winning a world championship and four NCAA titles were, to me this is a level all its own. To stand on a podium with a gold medal around your neck, hearing your national anthem is, in my mind, the greatest achievement you can have in sports. The U.S. has won the last five golds. None of us — trust me, none of us — will be thinking of that. There are 40 minutes to play. They will be the most important 40 minutes of my basketball life.
PHOTOS: EVERY U.S. MEDAL