RIO DE JANEIRO -- Its been an impressive start to the Rio Games for the three Olympic rookies on the U.S. womens basketball team.Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner have all had stretches when they have taken over games as the U.S. has won its first two contests in dominating fashion. There probably isnt another country that could have the reigning WNBA MVP coming off the bench, but thats the role Delle Donne has played so far. She actually enjoys it.Were so deep and thats one of our many strengths, and I kind of like coming in off the bench, said the 6-foot-5 star, who is averaging 11.5 points. I like being able to watch the game a little bit, kind of watch from the bench, let it come to me and get out there and provide the spark.While this is Delle Donnes first major tournament experience with the U.S., Griner and Stewart played for coach Geno Auriemma in the world championship in 2014.Griner was big at the worlds, earning all-tournament honors. Shes given the U.S. a strong presence inside as neither Senegal nor Spain attempted to score much in the paint with her in the game. The 6-8 center acknowledged it took a few minutes for her to get comfortable on the court, but once she got her feet wet, she was ready.Once I got about five minutes into the game, basketball just kind of takes over, Griner said. I dont want to say it turns into just another game, but it turns into just basketball. Youre out there playing, you know what to do.Stewart may be a rookie to the Olympics, but she certainly isnt to USA Basketball. The 21-year-old has played in the fifth most games for the U.S. of anyone on the Olympic team. Shes won five gold medals at the junior level as well as one at the world championship. She has a chance to win many more over the next decade.Shes a newcomer to the Olympics, but certainly not to international basketball, coach Geno Auriemma said. Nearly everywhere shes played shes won.Stewart scored 15 points in her Olympic debut and has made seven of her eight shots in the two games. The four-time NCAA champion leads the U.S. with 12 free throw attempts.They could be starting on this team, theres no question about it, point guard Sue Bird of Olympic rookie teammates. Their youth and I guess their lack of international experience is the one area but that will come with time. Theyre playing so well and thats why. ... When Stewie and Elena come in, theyre like top five in the WNBA in scoring. When they come in it just keeps rolling.Next up for the Americans is Serbia on Wednesday. The U.S. took Tuesday off after playing back-to-back days.While there will most likely be a huge roster turnover before the next Olympics with potentially half of this team retired by 2020, the young trio is a strong foundation to build on.They definitely are the future of this team, Diana Taurasi said. 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Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Nate Thurmond Jersey . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. The news headlines were unforgiving: fails, misses and comes up short in reference to Allyson Felixs unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the Rio Olympics in the 200-meter dash, her signature event.But the focus now for the three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist is not on the missed opportunity after placing fourth at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon. Its on a reimagined one: three gold medals instead of four.Prior to the 200-meter race at the legendary Hayward Field, Felix already had qualified for Rio in the 400 meters. She won the event in 49.68 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. Seven days later on July 10, when she attempted the other half of the double goal, she came through the finish just a hundredth of a second shy of becoming only the third American to qualify for the 200 and 400 in the Olympics. The feat has been achieved only by Michael Johnson in 1996 and Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984.Felix entered the trials physically vulnerable. In late April, she nursed an ankle injury suffered during a weight training session, which prevented her from performing crucial speed work leading into the trials. She needed a top-three finish in the 200 to advance to Rio but was edged by Jenna Prandini.Despite the unexpected outcome, the 30-year-old Felix shared that her disposition entering her fourth and possibly final Olympic Games remains strong. Shes on the hunt for gold this August -- in the 400 meters and potentially the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.espnW: There was a slight delay in posting the finishing times on the scoreboard. What was your reaction? I knew that it had to be extremely close because of the proximity that Jenna and I were to each other. The time that I ran was just more confirmation that I wasnt where I needed to be. It was a hard race. I could think, what if, but thats not my reality. The world doesnt wait for you. You have to pick up the pieces, and theres a race to be ran at the Olympics. Ive just got to keep moving forward.Knowing you were about to compete less prepared than what you would have liked, how did that impact your confidence at the trials? As far as the speed work, I didnt really get to it. There was a lot of uncertainty because typically I go into a season with five or six races before I go to trials or nationals. I had two low-key races in L.A. So I wasnt quite sure what to expect. I felt confident that I worked really hard, but it was more doubt in my body, that it couldnt hold up through everything that I needed it to do. I just didnt quite feel myself in the 200. It was a more difficult race.Hows your ankle?Its doing better. Its a process. It never had time to heal because I didnt have time. I go to therapy every morning, and Im still doing rehab so obviously its not 100 percent. But Im hoping itll be much closer to that by the time I actually have to step on the track in Rio.Its a balance between pushing yourself, but not too much, so you stay healthy.Exactly. That was the issue since it happened. What can we do, and what cant we do?How are you managing that balance as you prepare for Rio?Training definitely looks different thann it typically would because Im still getting huge amounts of therapy, still spending a lot of time with rehab exercises, and I cant do everything that I would like to do.dddddddddddd But its looking closer and better than before.How are you reprocessing your expectations?I had to refocus. My goals are different now. Different doesnt always have to mean negative or that its something bad. Every event that Im in Im going after gold. Before, I had wanted to go after four gold medals, and now after trials, my goal is to go after three gold medals, so just one event less is the difference.In what ways has your coach Bob Kersee influenced your perspective since the trials?Hes been everything. Folgers [coffee] is doing a campaign with the hashtag one cup at a time, and it celebrates influential people in my life and people whove made a difference. Bobby is obviously that person for me. He believed in me more than I believed in myself from the moment the injury happened. He was that person with the wisdom and the knowledge telling me we were still going after everything the same. Hes helped me regroup and continues to push me the only way he knows he can do.What is it about your bond with him that has helped you thrive?Its really just his personality. We just have a great partnership. Were complete opposites. Hes loud and yells, but we work well together. And also, just his wisdom. I look at the things that I want to accomplish, and hes been there, done that. Its great when you can have that trust in someone that has done it before and can lead you there.Earlier this year when the injury happened, I was feeling sorry for myself and a little down, like I had done all of this work, and it felt like it was all for nothing. When I came home from the doctor, he was at my house. He was icing with me every 20 minutes and had a talk with me about still going after everything I wanted and not letting this [the injury] change things. That was a moment when he saw something that I couldnt see.Youve said youre not ruling out Rio as your last Olympics. This could be it or not. Im just taking everything year by year. But Im definitely going into this one to just appreciate everything and be grateful to be there and give it my all.Do you feel nostalgic since competing in your first Olympics in Athens at 18?Its so crazy, man. I dont know where the time has gone. I remember when I was 18, everything was completely new, and I was taking everything in. And now Im coming in very focused with a very clear-cut goal. But one thing remains the same: my passion and love for the sport and love for the Olympic spirit. I get so excited about opening ceremonies and everything that the Olympics has to offer. It is different this time around, but that excitement and joy are definitely still there.What will bring you full satisfaction in Rio?To walk away with three gold medals would be amazing. But also just getting to that starting line with the ups and downs, completing the journey ... that will also make me very happy. ' ' '
