by Heather Hogan

Lisa Leslie leads USA women's basketball team to victory

The U.S. women's basketball team scored their 29th straight Olympic victory today. Lisa Leslie went a perfect 7-7 from the field as the Team USA trounced Mali 97-41. They've also routed China and the Czech Republic, winning by an average of 47 points in each of their victories so far in the Beijing Olympics.

Leslie's perfect performance set a new Olympic record. When a reporter mentioned this to her, she simply said, "Another record? Oh well, records are meant to be broken. It feels good, but we just wanted to get the win. We wanted to come out and perform well."

When Mali started out with a quick lead, head coach Jose Ruiz turned to his assistant and said, "Maybe the lights will go out now and it could be over."

It was not to be. Cappie Poindexter, Candace Parker, Seimone Augustus and Leslie all scored in double digits. Coach Anne Donovan said her team is just getting stronger.

The U.S. team has delighted fans in Bejing. During today's pre-game, Sylvia Fowles, Parker and Leslie took turns throwing down dunks, to raucous applause and picture-snapping. No woman has ever dunked during Olympic play.

The U.S. women play Spain on Friday. You can watch live online at NBC.com at 2:30 a.m. EST, or you can watch a replay at 2:30 p.m.

Heather Hogan's blog

Submitted by

Heather Hogan

on August 13, 2008 - 5:00pm.

TAGS ::

Tired of Leslie

Submitted by

AudreyD (12 posts)

on August 13, 2008 - 5:37pm.

I'm glad Lisa Leslie had a good day, but the fact is, she's one of the most overrated players in the WNBA. After the melee she and her L.A. Sparks teammates were involved in with Detroit a few weeks ago, she (and Delisha Milton and Candace Parker) should have been kicked off the national team. I'm glad at least that Sylvia Fowles and Simone Augustus are playing for the U.S., but instead of rewarding people like Leslie for their longevity, why not make room for more deserving new players like Candice Wiggins?

Tired of Leslie

Submitted by

vannie2 (208 posts)

on August 13, 2008 - 6:18pm.

When you look at the video tapes, the Detroit player was clearly the aggressor in the melee. Sylvia Fowles is probably being groomed as the next great center on the women's national team. She has it all: size, quickness, great inside moves and she is obviously a student of the game who learns quickly.

I Understand

Submitted by

krazykay7 (13 posts)

on August 13, 2008 - 8:06pm.

I understand that you may be a little tired of all the press that Lisa Leslie is receiving during the Olympics, but you should understand that this may be her last go around. I agree that you should take a look at the tape because it will show that Lisa Leslie was trying to break up the fight and she was also the person to step up and calm Candace Parker down on the play before that with Cheryl Ford. I also don't believe that they should have been kicked off the Olympic team because emotions run high when playing sports and it just happened to spill over. However, I believe that Candace Parker should have received a longer suspension, but she is the face of the league and they couldn't afford to sit her for long. Finally, Lisa Leslie is by no means overrated. She was a great player before the WNBA and she has continued it through her years in the WNBA. There will be younger players that come after her with more talent, like Candace Parker, but that does not negate what she has contributed in terms of advancing women's basketball.

This is Lisa Leslie's last olympics

Submitted by

maggieyeahis (1108 posts)

on August 13, 2008 - 6:43pm.

so if your tired of her, suck it up b/c she's not going to play in the olympics again..then you will not have to hear about her as much anymore. The stats don't lie the woman is good. Sylvia will be the replacement for Leslie, and Candace is so versatile she can play any position on the US team. I can't wait for the WNBA season to return to see who is gonna get to play in the playoffs. I wonder what Phoenix will do with no Penny, and what LA will do next year if Leslie does not come back.

Did anyone see the interview with S. Cash during the halftime of tonights game..she seems to think highly of Leslie.

Love it!

Submitted by

lkier (38 posts)

on August 13, 2008 - 7:31pm.

Love, love, love women's basketball.

A couple of corrections in the above story, though.. it's Cappie Pondexter rather than Poindexter. And according to the USA Basketball website, the next game for the USA women is at 8:00am EST on Friday (which is 8:00pm in Beijing) vs Spain. Then they will take on New Zealand at 10:15am EST on Sunday.

Whoops.

Submitted by

Heather Hogan (1500 posts)

on August 14, 2008 - 5:59am.

I knew that about Pondexter, my finger must've slipped.

I got the schedule from NBC.com. Maybe they had it wrong. I'll look again. Thanks for the heads up!

Lisa Leslie

Submitted by

DaKoolOne (18 posts)

on August 13, 2008 - 10:36pm.

was good 5 or 6 years ago. She tired and gets way to much hype. What has she really done besides been the flagship for the WNBA since Cynthia Cooper retired? She hasn't won a championship in 6 years. 6! With all the hype she gets she and the Sparks should win EVERY YEAR. She's already won medals in the Olympics give someone who is better than her the chance to rep the USA.All Candice Parker is getting is the Kobe "choke" Bryant treatment where the WNBA is going to back her forever like she the next MJ. (neither of then are) She all hype just like she was in college. They are the Kobe and Shaq of the WNBA till the end of the year. Candice Wiggins who should have gone #1 but didn't because the WNBA needs to get people to watch the games and the only way they think it will happen is if they put it on the shoulder of Parker. The Sparks are gonna win it all, Leslie is going to get MVP and, Parker is going to get rookie of the year cuz the WNBA is a fledgling league that doesn't get the respect it should. You want real players look at the Paris Twins of OU who still have a year to win in the unless your UCONN or Tennessee Women's NCAA.

I'm still upset that Becky

Submitted by

Lauren (668 posts)

on August 13, 2008 - 10:51pm.

I'm still upset that Becky Hammon didn't make the US team. My Hammon love goes so deep that I'm tempted to root for Russia.

~~smithsayswhat.blogspot.com~~

why not?

Submitted by

Bridget (73 posts)

on August 14, 2008 - 12:30am.

me too. there really is no reason for her not to be on the us team. she definitely belongs there though.

it's a shame she had to go and play for russia instead.

The Games

Submitted by

pecola (1550 posts)

on August 14, 2008 - 11:49pm.

I still don't think that this is the best team that the US could've put forward, but, based on the opening round action, it's difficult for me to imagine this team not winning the gold in Beijing.

::knocks on wood::

Sylvia Fowles, I think, is playing some inspired basketball coming off that injury and I hope that it means that the Chicago Sky will be more competitive going into the second half of the WNBA season.

Also, I have to note--it's been great to see the men's team in attendance and cheering on the women's team at every game. Nice to see them representing so well for USA Basketball.

-----

"The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right..." - Judge Learned Hand, The Spirit of Liberty

Games

Submitted by

Lips (6 posts)

on August 28, 2008 - 8:07pm.

I watched the games and the girl Lisa really played well and the way that she looked out for Candance was really honorable. I am looking forward to the WNBA as well. I really would like to check out one of the games.

This is cool

Submitted by

jonny (1 post)

on September 25, 2009 - 9:44pm.

I really like women basket ball and Thank you for the news. Its latest news for us. Are there any youth sports websites to review this event. If there is a one its so helpful to visit us and review it.

Welcome to AfterEllen.com!

by Heather Hogan

Lisa Leslie leads USA women's basketball team to victory