The 1996 Women’s Olympic Basketball Team: Where Are They Now?
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It’s been over 20 years since the 1996 Women’s Olympic basketball team won gold in Atlanta, and we wondered what they’re up to now. Here’s a catch-up on what the members of that iconic team are doing today.
The 1996 Women’s Olympic basketball Team
The 1996 United States women’s Olympic Basketball team is often considered one of the best basketball teams ever assembled. The team was stacked with talent, including future Hall of Famers Sheryl Swoopes Lisa Leslie, and Rebecca Lobo. The team routed their opponents en route to a gold medal winning by an average of over 33 points per game
Now, more than 20 years later, many of the members of that team have gone on to have successful careers in basketball and beyond. Here’s a look at what some of them are doing now:
Sheryl Swoopes: After a successful collegiate and professional career, Swoopes has become a coach and consultant. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Lisa Leslie: After retiring from the WNBA in 2009, Leslie has worked as a television commentator and studio analyst. She has also been very active in philanthropy, starting the Lisa Leslie Foundation to help empower young girls through sports.
Rebecca Lobo: After a brief professional career overseas, Lobo became a college basketball analyst for ESPN. In 2017, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
The Team’s Success
The 1996 Women’s Olympic basketball team was one of the most successful teams in the history of women’s basketball. The team won a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and went on to win several more championships in the following years. The team’s success was due in part to the talent and skill of its members, but also to the team’s cohesion and desire to win.
Now, more than 20 years after their Olympic victory, the members of the team have gone their separate ways. Some have continued to play basketball while others have pursued other interests. But all of them still remember the bonds they formed and the success they enjoyed as a team.
The Team’s Legacy
The 1996 Women’s Olympic Basketball team is often lauded as one of the best teams in the history of basketball. The team was dominant in every aspect of the game and won gold in dominating fashion. However, what many people don’t know is what happened to the team after they won gold.
While most of the team went on to have successful careers in the WNBA or overseas, some members of the team-such as Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie- went on to have even greater success in other realms. Swoopes, for example, became a successful businesswoman and television analyst, while Leslie became a model and actress.
The team’s legacy goes beyond their on-court success. They are also credited with helping to grow the popularity of women’s basketball both in the United States and internationally. They are an inspiration to many young women who aspire to play basketball at the highest level
Where Are They Now?
It has been twenty years since the 1996 Women’s Olympic basketball team electrified the world with their gold medal performance. Many of the team’s members have gone on to have successful careers in the WNBA, as well as coaching and broadcasting. Here is a look at what some of the team’s most popular players are doing now.
Sheryl Swoopes: After a successful career in the WNBA, Swoopes became Head Coach of her alma mater, Texas Tech University in 2013. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Rebecca Lobo: Lobo is currently a basketball analyst for ESPN. She also has her own line of women’s basketball apparel called “RL55.”
Ticha Penicheiro: Penicheiro is currently an Assistant Coach for the Sacramento Kings NBA team
Individual Successes
In the years since the 1996 games, each member of the team has experienced unique professional and personal successes.
Sheryl Swoopes, nicknamed “the female Michael Jordan ” was the first player to be signed to the WNBA when it was created in 1997. She played for several teams throughout her career, most notably the Houston Comets with whom she won four NBA championships In 2011, she was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame Swoopes is also widely considered one of the greatest players in women’s college basketball history: she was a three-time NCAA women’s basketball player of the year, and led her team (Texas Tech) to an undefeated season and an NCAA National Championship in 1993.
Tamika Catchings is another member of the team who had a prolific career in the WNBA. Catchings played for 15 seasons, winning a championship with the Indiana Fever in 2012. She was also a 10-time All-Star and a five-time Defensive Player of the Year. After retiring from playing in 2016, Catchings became head coach of the Fever – they made it to the playoffs in her first season as coach.
Both Swoopes and Catchings were Olympic gold medalists again in 2004; Swoopes also won gold in 2000.
Life After Basketball
The 1996 Women’s Olympic basketball team was one of the most successful and dominant teams in the history of the sport. They won every game by an average of over 30 points, and their closest margin of victory was 17 points. They were a true dynasty, and their legacy still looms large over the sport today.
But what happened to the players on that team after their basketball careers were over? In this article, we’ll take a look at where they are now and what they’re doing with their lives.
Most of the players on the team went on to have successful careers in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson are all members of the WNBA Hall of Fame and Dawn Staley is a current Head Coach in the league. Swoopes and Thompson both won multiple NBA Championships and Leslie is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
Several members of the team also had successful careers in coaching or broadcasting. Rebecca Lobo-Rushin was an assistant coach for several years before becoming a television analyst for ESPN. Jennifer Azzi is currently the Head coach of Stanford University’s women’s basketball team Ruthie Bolton-Holifield is a coach at her alma mater, Delta State University Katrina McClain Johnson is an assistant coach for men’s and women’s basketball at Auburn University
Four players from the team – Nikki McCray, Saudia Roundtree, Katie Smith, and Kara Wolters – have also been inducted intothe Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame All four played Professional Basketball overseas after their time in Atlanta, and all four have had their jerseys retired by their respective colleges.
So what are these women up to now? Most are still involved in basketball in some way, whether it be coaching, broadcasting, or working for a network or organization related to the sport. Others have taken on different roles; Lobo-Rushin is now a mother and an author, while Azzi has become a Motivational Speaker But all of them are still connected to each other and to the game that they helped make so popular more than two decades ago.
The Team’s Influence
The 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team is often lauded as one of the best teams in history. The team, which featured Future Hall of-Famers like Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie, and Tina Thompson, went 8-0 en route to the gold medal, defeating their opponents by an average of nearly 30 points per game
While the team’s on-court success is undeniable, their true legacy may be the impact they had off the court. The ’96 team was one of the first women’s Basketball teams to achieve mainstream success and popularity, and they paved the way for future generations of athletes. In the 20 years since the team’s triumph at the Atlanta Olympics, several members of the squad have gone on to successful careers in coaching, broadcasting, and business. Here’s a look at what some of the team’s key members are doing now.
The 1996 Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated in Atlanta, Georgia, United States from July 19 to August 4, 1996. A record 197 nations, all current IOC member nations, took part in the Games.
Women’s Basketball
The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, were a triumphant moment for the United States women’s Basketball team The team, composed of some of the most talented female basketball players in the country, went on to win the gold medal in a close match against Brazil.
While most of the members of the team went on to have successful careers in basketball, some have chosen different paths. Here’s a look at what some of the members of the 1996 women’s Olympic Basketball Team are doing now:
Sheryl Swoopes: After winning three Olympic gold medals and being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame Swoopes became head coach of her alma mater, Loyola University Chicago
Rebecca Lobo: Lobo is now an analyst for ESPN and has also written a memoir about her life and career in basketball.
Lisa Leslie: Leslie is now a businesswoman and motivational speaker. She also has her own line of fitness products.
Katie Smith: Smith is currently an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA.
The 1996 Women’s Olympic Basketball team Where Are They Now?
The 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta marked an important moment in women’s basketball. For the first time, professional players were allowed to compete in the Olympics. This meant that some of the best players in the world were finally able to showcase their skills on the biggest stage.
The United States women’s Basketball team led by head coach Tara VanDerveer, went undefeated en route to winning the gold medal. The team featured several stars, including Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, and Rebecca Lobo.
Since their historic victory in 1996, many of the members of the team have gone on to successful careers in coaching, broadcasting, and business. Here’s a look at what some of the stars of the 1996 team are doing now:
Lisa Leslie: After retiring from a successful playing career, Leslie pursued a career in broadcasting. She currently works as a sports commentator for ESPN and ABC.
Sheryl Swoopes: After retiring from basketball in 2011, Swoopes became head coach of her alma mater, Texas Tech University. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Rebecca Lobo: Lobo is currently a basketball analyst for ESPN. She also works as a studio analyst for the network’s “Saturday Primetime” games.
Tara VanDerveer: VanDerveer is still coaching College Basketball She is currently the head coach of Stanford University Under her leadership, Stanford has won two National Championships (in 1990 and 1992).