The rivalry between the United States’ Lisa Leslie and Australia’s Lauren Jackson that began in 2000 will continue in Athens.
While the U.S. men's oncourt aura of invincibility has taken a few hits in recent years, the women have not diminished their No.1 world ranking.
The Americans have been at the top for eight years, going 34-0 in world play and winning the 1996 and 2000 Olympics and 1998 and 2002 World Championships.
The United States is fundamentally sound, defensive-minded, unselfish and as talented as ever thanks to the emergence of the WNBA. It will be led by a seasoned trio seeking their third gold medals together.
Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley and Sheryl Swoopes were on the roster in 1996 and 2000. They'll lead a team that includes 2000 gold-medal winners Yolanda Griffith and Katie Smith and six Olympic rookies: Sue Bird, Swim Cash, Tamika Catchings, Shannon Johnson, Tina Thompson and Diana Taurasi.
Leslie's Los Angeles Sparks teammate, DeLisha Milton-Jones, will miss her shot at a second gold after suffering a season-ending knee injury in a July 9 WNBA game. Detroit Shock center Ruth Riley will replace her. SIMPLY THE BEST: Once, Leslie was the best player in the world. Now it's Lauren Jackson.
The Australian native played for her first national team at age 16 and her first Olympic team at 19 before becoming the WNBA's No.1 pick in 2001.
Because of their size - Leslie and Jackson are 6-foot-5 - a natural rivalry grew. It took off in the 2000 Olympics, when Jackson got the better of Leslie in Sydney. Leslie scored 15 but had two shots blocked by Jackson, who had 20 points in front of her home nation.
There also was the "hair incident." Jackson went up for a rebound when her fingers got tangled with Leslie's hair - or rather, hair extension. The weave came out and Jackson screamed, throwing it to the ground. The Americans beat the Opals 76-54.
"They can have the hair," Leslie said afterward. "We got the gold."
Jackson led Australia to the 2002 World Championship bronze and was on the All-World team. She was the WNBA MVP in 2003 and is second in scoring this season, averaging 20.8 points and seven rebounds for Seattle. Jackson won't lack for attention this summer. She bared all for the Australian photo magazine Black+White in its issue featuring Olympic athletes.
WILD CARDS: The Russians are always big, always physical, always tough and are coming off the 2003 European Championship.
But no Olympic team faces more unknowns.
First there's 6-8 Maria Stepanova. She spent four years in the WNBA but returned home after averaging 10.4 points in 2001. She can put the ball on the floor, shoot from 3-point range and can take over a game.
But Stepanova was inconsistent in the United States, and opponents don't know what to expect from her in Athens. If she has continued to mature since she left the WNBA, she could be a force.
Then there's 6-2 forward Svetlana Abrosimova. Last year she was third in scoring for the Minnesota Lynx, averaging 10.6 points. But a herniated disc kept her out of the WNBA until June, and she's only averaged 2.8 points for the Lynx in nine games. Abrosimova was on the 2000 Olympic team but her health and complicated relationship with the national team make her an unknown.
HOME SWEET HOME: In 2003 Janeth Arcain became the first to play in all 220 franchise games for the Houston Comets. The streak ended after that because Arcain didn't return to the WNBA.
Like all of Brazil's national players, she agreed to stay home to train for Athens, and a shot to upset the Americans. U.S. players only have weeks to come together. Brazilian players had a year.
At age 34, Arcain still is Brazil's best. The 5-11 guard led all scorers in the 2000 Games, averaging 20.5. Recently she led Brazil in scoring (24.3), rebounding (7.9) and steals (3.0) at the Americas Olympic qualifying tournament.
Arcain won silver in 1996 and bronze in 2000. All she's missing is the gold.
