Dawn Staley to guide US women through 2020 Olympics

WASHINGTON: Three-time Olympic champion player Dawn Staley will coach the US women’s national basketball team into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, USA Basketball announced Friday.

The 46-year-old former guard, who spent 11 seasons in the Women’s NBA, has coached the University of South Carolina women’s team since 2008 after eight seasons guiding Temple.

In addition to playing on US Gold medal squads in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics, the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee was an assistant coach on the 2008 and 2016 women’s gold medal squads.

“Being named head coach of the USA national team is a tremendous honor,” Staley said.

“As a player, I was humbled each time I wore the uniform and this feels no different. I will do my very best to uphold the standards and winning tradition of the national team.”

US women have won the past six Olympic crowns without a loss, their 49-game Olympic win streak dating to the bronze medal contest in 1992 after losing in the Barcelona semi-finals to the Commonwealth of Independent States.

In all, US women have won eight Olympic basketball crowns and nine World Championship titles, including six of the past eight and the past two in a row. They will defend the crown at what is now called the Basketball World Cup next year in Spain. — AFP