USA TODAY International Edition
Young left vacation for last- minute Olympics call
TOKYO – Not one to take long vacations, Jackie Young figured a three- or four- day trip to Florida during the WNBA’s Olympics layoff was an appropriate respite.
Florida was the destination. She didn’t stay long.
A call came in late on July 17. Young, the WNBA’s 2019 No. 1 overall pick by the Aces, didn’t recognize the number.
“I was like, ‘ Wait, let me answer this,’ ” she said Wednesday, minutes after helping the U. S. women’s basketball 3- on- 3 team defeat the Russia Olympic Committee in the format’s inaugural gold medal game. “So I answered it and it was them.”
“Them” was USA Basketball selection committee member Jay Demings and Kara Lawson, the adviser for the 3on- 3 team. ( Squads do not have “coaches” technically since none are allowed on the sideline during games.)
Katie Lou Samuelson, the Storm guard and former University of Connecticut standout, had tested positive for the coronavirus. As one of the original four members of the roster, she could no longer go to Tokyo.
Stefanie Dolson said losing Samuelson was “scary” because teammates Allisha Gray and Kelsey Plum didn’t know whether they’d be able to carry a fourth – leaving them without a substitute for the eight- team tournament – or whom the replacement could be.
“Katie Lou was a huge part of our team,” Dolson said. “She’s a shooter, she’s a defender, she’s long. There were some scary moments when we heard about it, but when we found out Jackie was coming – she’s an amazing defender, she can pass the ball, she has great composure, and she ( showed) all that.”
Young, who played college ball at Notre Dame, flew from vacation to Las Vegas, where the Aces play, to begin the testing protocol. “I knew I had a chance to be on the team, but we weren’t sure,” she said. “I flew out the next morning.”
The rest of the 3- on- 3 squad traveled to Tokyo that Monday, and Young followed the day after. She fit right in, Dolson said – despite the fact the last time Young had played the format was 2019.
“That’s all the credit to Jackie,” said Dolson, who had a team- high seven points in the 18- 15 win. “She made it here on her own hard work and dedication. We practiced plays the first day she got here. The fact she was able to get on board so quickly and learn our system, just props to her on that.”
All it took was wanting some time away from the court.
“It’s crazy to think about,” Young said. “Ten days ago, I was on vacation. My life changed like that. Now I’m a gold medalist. It’s crazy how things work out.”