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Kara Lawson talks about not making Olympic squad
It would not be a reach to speculate that the United States may not be the defending Olympic champions if not for Kara Lawson.
I still remember when Lawson was named to the Olympic team and there were many (including me) who questioned the selection believing that Lindsay Whalen would have been a better choice. (Ironically four years later Whalen made the team over Lawson).
Well in retrospect Lawson played a major role in the U.S. winning a fourth straight Olympic title. In the gold medal game she was perfect from the floor going 5 of 5 including 4 of 4 from 3-point range to finish with 15 points. In the tournament she led the U.S. squad with 24 assists while averaging 7 points per game.
When the first 11 players were named to the 2012 Olympic squad on Friday, Lawson was not among them. I was able to ask the Connecticut Sun guard for her reaction at an ESPN press conference on Saturday morning.
"It is disappointing, absolutely," Lawson said. "You are part of the system and there are only so many spots so wait 'til next time and keep working on your game and you never know what could happen. Absolutely, we are fortunate in the U.S. that we have so many great players. We could send over a lot of different combinations and come home with the gold. They had to do what they saw fit in terms of putting together the best combination so good luck to them."
Lawson said she would be open to being an alternate on the team and certainly she could be in the running for one of the three alternate spots.
Thanks to Caroline Williams of USA Basketball, I can bring you some reaction from first-time Olympian Tina Charles, one of five former UConn stars to make the U.S. squad.
I still remember when Lawson was named to the Olympic team and there were many (including me) who questioned the selection believing that Lindsay Whalen would have been a better choice. (Ironically four years later Whalen made the team over Lawson).
Well in retrospect Lawson played a major role in the U.S. winning a fourth straight Olympic title. In the gold medal game she was perfect from the floor going 5 of 5 including 4 of 4 from 3-point range to finish with 15 points. In the tournament she led the U.S. squad with 24 assists while averaging 7 points per game.
When the first 11 players were named to the 2012 Olympic squad on Friday, Lawson was not among them. I was able to ask the Connecticut Sun guard for her reaction at an ESPN press conference on Saturday morning.
"It is disappointing, absolutely," Lawson said. "You are part of the system and there are only so many spots so wait 'til next time and keep working on your game and you never know what could happen. Absolutely, we are fortunate in the U.S. that we have so many great players. We could send over a lot of different combinations and come home with the gold. They had to do what they saw fit in terms of putting together the best combination so good luck to them."
Lawson said she would be open to being an alternate on the team and certainly she could be in the running for one of the three alternate spots.
Thanks to Caroline Williams of USA Basketball, I can bring you some reaction from first-time Olympian Tina Charles, one of five former UConn stars to make the U.S. squad.
"When I got the call, I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement. It is truly a blessing to be named with the elite players in women’s basketball and the opportunity to play with a great group on the highest level of competition doesn't get any better than that.
"This have been a dream of mine to be a part of an Olympic team and now I’m just going to take advantage of the opportunity."
"This have been a dream of mine to be a part of an Olympic team and now I’m just going to take advantage of the opportunity."
Labels: Kara Lawson, Tina Charles
posted by Jim Fuller at
12:26 PM
1 Comments:
I think the USA would make a huge mistake not having Vandersloot or Sims or Diggins on the team in the Olympics.
4 years from now, Bird and Whalen will be past their prime and have lost a half step or more.
USA gained by having Bird learn at the Olympics. I see no reason not to repeat that lesson learned.
USA roster includes 4 players over 30 and Taurasi who will be 30 this year.
USA roster includes injury prone Parker. USA roster includes Cash and Augustus who have had major injuries. Taurasi has had back trouble.
Griner and a young PG should be the 11th and 12th players. Cash or Parker if she is injured should be let go.
Just my humble unprofessional comments.
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