BEIJING, China — The first time they stepped onto a court together wearing the same jersey was Nov. 11, 2004. Four years later, the two have fulfilled lifelong dreams. Former LSU women’s basketball stars Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles have been reunited on the world’s biggest stage ? to represent the United States at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The two, who once donned L-S-U across their jerseys, will proudly wear the letters U-S-A when they and the U.S. Senior National Team open Olympic play Saturday against the Czech Republic at 7 a.m. CDT from Wukesong Arena. The contest will be televised live by USA Network.
“To tell you the truth, it still hasn’t hit me yet,” Fowles said. “I wake up sometimes and wonder, am I really here with Lisa Leslie, here with Tina Thompson? I try to soak up the moment as much as possible because I still consider myself as being more of a fan when I see them. It still hasn’t hit me yet.”
USA vs. Czech Republic
When: Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7 a.m. CDT
Where: Wukesong Arena in Beijing, China
TV: USA Network/NBC Basketball Channel (live)
Notables:
The U.S. has only faced the Czech Republic once in Olympic competition with the Americans recording an 80-61 win in Athens in 2004. The Czech Republic finished fifth in competition that year, while Team USA won its third straight gold medal under current LSU head coach Van Chancellor. The U.S. last faced the Czech Republic in international competition in 2006, earning a 63-50 victory over the eventual seventh-place finishers. Sylvia Fowles registered double-figures in two of the three games the Americans played in the FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament, which served as a tune-up for the Olympics. Both Fowles and Seimone Augustus took part in Basketball Media Day in Beijing on Friday before heading to the Opening Ceremonies.
Van Chancellor‘s Scouting Report
“The Czech Republic is a team that will spread the floor and they can be considered a finesse basketball team. This is a team that will have size and athleticism but will not be as strong as the Americans. They really match us on the perimeter with some of their players (Eva Vitechkova and Jana Vesela), who will find ways to score. However, they cannot match a Sylvia Fowles or a Lisa Leslie inside. In the post, they will have a tough time against the depth of Team USA. It will be tough assignment, but don’t be surprised by the score. This will be a great opening game, and Team USA will get tested right away.”
“There are a lot of emotions I’m juggling right now,” added Augustus, a Baton Rouge native. “I’m excited, but I’m also nervous because of all of the history around this USA Basketball team. But it’s obviously an incredible opportunity. I get to play with some of the best athletes in the world. And there’s no other place that I’d want to be.”
Team USA has won three straight gold medals in Olympic competition, and Augustus knows that every opponent will be looking to put a halt to the streak.
“Right now, we’re focused on our team, but we understand this tournament is going to be very competitive,” she said. “Everybody is a threat, and we won’t be able to relax against any team. That’s the mindset we have to come in with. We need to put people away early on and not let them hang on.”
Augustus and Fowles are the first U.S. Olympians in LSU women’s basketball history, adding to a tradition-rich legacy that has included five straight NCAA Final Four appearances. Together, the two combined for 182 wins, two Southeastern Conference Championships and four State Farm All-America honors during their collegiate days.
“It’s great and I haven’t had that wonderful experience in a while,” Augustus said of being reunited with her former teammate. “It’s so nice to just lob it up there into the post and know that Sylvia will go up and get it. And it’s good to see that she’s healthy enough to be out here and to know that she’ll contribute.”
Augustus and Fowles are no strangers to USA Basketball. The 2008 Olympics will represent the third time both Augustus and Fowles have donned the Senior National Team jersey, having done so in Italy in 2007 and in Australia in 2006. Both were members of the 2005 World University Games gold medal U.S. squad.
Augustus is having a standout WNBA season as a member of the Minnesota Lynx where earlier this season she became the second-fastest player in league history to reach the 2,000-point plateau. Fowles, who is coming off a knee injury she sustained in June, is a candidate for the league’s Rookie of the Year award with the Chicago Sky.
LSU is one of only two schools in the SEC to have multiple former players on the Olympic team. However, the Lady Tigers have another tie to USA Basketball. LSU head coach Van Chancellor guided the Americans to the 2004 gold medal in Athens with a perfect 8-0 record. Chancellor, who led the Lady Tigers to their fifth straight Final Four in 2007, owns an unblemished 38-0 mark in USA Basketball competition since 2002.
“The start of the Olympics has brought back a ton of memories,” Chancellor said. “I am thrilled that Seimone and Sylvia are going through this experience of a lifetime. It is such an honor, and I feel like a proud father to know that they will not only be representing the United States but the LSU women’s basketball program as well.”
One look around Chancellor’s office and it is easy to see that his passion for the red, white and blue are as equal to the purple and gold he wears today. Framed plaques and photographs on the walls capture the memories of Team USA’s last golden triumph in Athens.
“When you have USA across your chest, you are so proud,” Chancellor said. “What an awesome responsibility. There is nothing like it. The opening ceremonies are the most overwhelming site in my life. Walking through the parade of athletes into the stadium just makes you feel so privileged. You can’t even describe it. It is breathtaking.”
Chancellor has since passed the USA head coaching torch to Anne Donovan, a four-time U.S. Olympic team member and former head coach of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm. Donovan served as an assistant coach under Chancellor’s gold medal teams in Athens in 2004 and at the 2002 World Championships.
Following the game with the Czech Republic, the U.S. takes on host China on Aug. 11 at 7 a.m. CDT. The Americans face Mali on Aug. 13 at 9:15 a.m. CDT followed by contests against Spain on Aug. 15 at 7 a.m. CDT and New Zealand at 9:15 a.m. CDT on Aug. 17. Quarterfinals will be held on Aug. 19 with semifinal contests taking place Aug. 21. The gold medal game tips on Aug. 23.
All preliminary games will be televised by USA Network and on the NBC Olympic Basketball Channel (digital cable channel 701 in Baton Rouge). The semifinals will air on MSNBC while NBC will televise the finals live.
2008 U.S. Women’s Basketball Olympic Schedule
All times are Central. All games played at Wukesong Arena.
Aug. 9, 7 a.m., USA vs. Czech Republic, USA Network/NBC Basketball Channel
Aug. 11, 7 a.m., USA vs. China, USA Network/NBC Basketball Channel
Aug. 13, 9:15 a.m., USA vs. Mali, USA Network/NBC Basketball Channel
Aug. 15, 7 a.m., USA vs. Spain, USA Network/NBC Basketball Channel
Aug. 17, 9:15 a.m., USA vs. New Zealand, USA Network/NBC Basketball Channel
Aug. 19, TBA, Quarterfinals, USA Network/NBC Basketball Channel
Aug. 21, TBA, Semifinals, MSNBC/NBC Basketball Channel
Aug. 23, TBA, Finals, NBC/NBC HD/NBC Basketball Channel