The Team USA women’s basketball team might be the best current dynasty in sports right now. They are looking to win their eighth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
Head coach Cheryl Reeve had no shortage of elite players to select for this year’s squad.
The team will be led by Diana Taurasi who once she sets foot on the court in Paris, will be the first men or women’s basketball player to play in six Olympics.
Here is the entire roster representing Team USA:
· Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury
· Kahleah Cooper, Phoenix Mercury
· Brittney Griner, Phoenix Mercury
· A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
· Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
· Jackie Young, Las Vegas Aces
· Chelsea Gray, Las Vegas Aces
· Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
· Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut Sun
· Napheesa Collier, Minnesota Lynx
· Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty
· Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
The players have a combined 15 Olympic gold medals, eight WNBA champions, three WNBA MVPs and five WNBA rookie of the year winners.
Team USA is in Group C with Japan, Germany, and Belgium.
Here is their schedule for Group play:
· July 29, USA vs. Japan (3 pm ET)
· August 1, Belgium vs. USA (3 pm ET)
· August 4, Germany vs. USA (11:15 am ET)
Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.
Three American fencers who competed in the women’s individual sabre events on Monday fell short of achieving a medal at the Paris Olympics as a match-fixing investigation takes hold.
A match-fixing investigation was launched after two complaints were filed in an arbitration procedure known as Section 9 ahead of the Olympics by fencers who disputed whether Tatiana Nazlymov and men’s sabre fencer Mitchell Saron should have been included in that roster.
USA Today reported that documents showed both complaints were dismissed last month. Nazylmov and Saron were on the team and there was no suggestion that either committed misconduct.
“We respect the right of those Fencers who went through the Section 9 process and are mindful of the emotional strain the process puts on all parties,” USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews told The Associated Press.
“While the investigation continues and we anticipate a report after the conclusion of the Olympic Games; both independent panels rendered their decisions and we are now focused on a healthy environment here in Paris.”
Nazylmov, Magda Skarbonkiewicz and Elizabeth Tartakovsky lost their round of 32 matches in the individual sabre portion of the event. Each will compete in the team event on Saturday.
Saron lost in the round of 16 on Saturday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Simone Biles put on an impressive display of gymnastics on Sunday in the qualification round despite appearing to suffer a calf injury.
Smiles on the balance beam turned to concern after she warmed up for the floor exercise. She appeared to land awkwardly on a big jump. She managed to perform the floor exercise, hit a Yurchenko double pike on vault and impressed on the uneven bars.She hobbled and grit her teeth through it all.
U.S. coach Cecile Landi gave some good news about Biles’ injury. She said the injury was minor and that there were no plans to sideline her for the Olympics.
“I can’t express it,” Landi said. “I’m really proud of her and what she’s been through and what she’s showing the world what she’s capable of doing.”
The gymnastics team final is Tuesday and the individual all-around is Thursday.
Biles skipped the team final at the Tokyo Olympics, sparking concern and worry for her mental health.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
{{#rendered}}American silver medalist Haley Batten was hit with a fine after her second-place finish in women’s cross country mountain biking on Sunday at the Paris Olympics.
Batten was fined about $565 for breaking a rule on the final lap. She was jockeying for second place with Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds went she went through a lane meant for taking in food or stopping for mechanical problems.
Judges only determined that Batten broke one rule – failing to “respect the instructions of the race organization or commissaries.” Officials didn’t appear to believe her infraction was enough to warrant a disqualification.
Both Batten and Rissveds finished behind France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prevot.
“I knew before Tokyo that this was the race I was focusing on,” Batten said. “I’ve known for a long time that I could be good here and Tokyo was — I wanted to be on the podium there, but I wasn’t quite ready to be honest. I prepared much better to be the best I’ve ever been. For me, preparation has been in the details, studying and building every single year.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Before anyone in the Western Hemisphere was awake, South Korea was already wrapping up a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
South Korea’s Ban Hyojin narrowly defeated China’s Huang Yuting for the gold by 0.1 in the 10-meter air rifle women’s final. Ban was emotional as she realized how small of a margin she won by.
“At this young age, I felt a lot of pressure coming to France without my family and being alone," the 16-year-old said afterward. "But after the match I saw my fellow countrypeople cheering for me and I felt like ‘finally.’"
For Huang, it was her second medal of the Games. She won the mixed team air rifle on Saturday with her teammate Sheng Lihao. It was the first gold medal awarded in the Paris Olympics.
Switzerland’s Audrey Gogniat picked up the bronze medal. American Sagen Maddalena finished in fourth place. The United States has never a medal in the shooting competition.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The United States has 12 medals to its tally so far at the Paris Olympics. Here’s a look at the teams and athletes who have already captured a medal in some events so far.
Gold
Jack Alexy, Chris Giuliano, Hunter Armstrong and Caeleb Dressel (Men’s swimming 4x100 freestyle relay)
Torri Huske (Women’s swimming 100-meter butterfly)
Lee Kiefer (Women’s fencing individual foil)
Silver
Sarah Bacon, Kassidy Cook (Women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard)
Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, Simone Manuel (Women’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay)
Haley Batten (Women’s mountain biking cross country)
Gretchen Walsh (Women’s swimming 100-meter butterfly)
Nic Fink (Men’s swimming 100-meter breaststroke)
Lauren Scruggs (Women’s fencing individual foil)
Bronze
Chloe Dygert (Women’s road cycling individual time trial)
Katie Ledecky (Women’s swimming 400-meter free style)
Carson Foster (Men’s swimming 400-meter individual medley
{{#rendered}}The poor water quality of the River Seine cost Olympic triathletes another day of training on Monday. It was the second straight day practice was canceled.
World Triathlon made the decision to cancel the workout following a meeting over water quality in the river. Representatives overseeing the event conducted tests on the water in the Seine and the test showed water quality levels leading into Sunday’s session that “did not provide sufficient guarantees to allow the event to be held.”
Officials blamed it on the weather that caused a deluge during Friday’s opening ceremony and forced the postponement of some tennis matches and skateboarding competitions.
French sports minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra told CNEWS in France on Monday that officials were optimistic and plans to control bacteria levels in the river have been effective.
But pointed to the rain being out of their hands.
“I am confident in the fact that we will be able to be there tomorrow for the men’s triathlon event,” she said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
South Korea’s Hyojin Ban already started Monday off with a gold medal in the 10-meter air rifle women’s final, finishing ahead of China’s Huang Yuting and Switzerland’s Audrey Gogniat.
There are several other Paris Olympics medal events on tap for the day.
Men’s synchronized 10-meter platform final, equestrian eventing team jumping final, 10-meter air rifle final, men’s cross country mountain biking, equestrian eventing individual final, archery team gold and bronze medal matches, men and women’s 73-kilogram judo, skateboarding men’s street final, canoe slalom men’s single final, men’s gymnastics team final, women’s swimming 400-meter individual medley final, men’s swimming 200-meter freestyle final, women’s fencing sabre individual gold and bronze medal matches and men’s fencing foil individual gold and bronze medal matches.
The United States led the medal count entering Monday with 12 in total. The team has three gold medals, six silver medals and three bronze on their count.
South Korea, Japan and Australia each have four gold medals
The Paris Olympics are in full swing as more events will yield medal winners on Monday. But a cloud of controversy has taken over the Summer Games.
The opening ceremony appeared to leave a bad taste in the mouth of fans who turned onto see what kind of performance France would put on for those tuning in around the world. Many who watched believe one segment featured drag queens, a transgender model and naked singer who was stylized to resemble the Greek god Dionysus mocked The Last Supper.
Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps spoke about it on Sunday.
"Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. (The opening ceremony) tried to celebrate community tolerance," Descamps told reporters, via Reuters."We believe this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense, we are really sorry."
The uproar resulted in reactions from across the social media landscape. American and world leaders as well as those in the sports world spoke out.
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