Facts & Photos: 2012 U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were to be held July 24-Aug. 9, 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic postponed the Summer Games to 2021. USA Basketball is celebrating the original dates of the 2020 Olympics with a look back at past U.S. Olympic men’s and women’s basketball teams through photos and fun facts. Be sure to check in daily for Olympic memories galore!
On this day in USA Basketball Olympic History: July 30
- A double-double of 14 points, 12 rebounds and a U.S. Olympic single-game record four blocked shots from Candace Parker led the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team to a 90-38 defeat of Angola while the squad set a team record with 11 blocks; in 1996 Penny Hardaway scored 14 points as the USA defeated Brazil 98-75 in quarterfinal action; the 1992 women defeated Czechoslovakia 111-55 behind 18 points from Cynthia Cooper and a U.S. Olympic women’s single-game record of 40 steals; in 1984 Michael Jordan knocked down 20 points in a 89-68 victory over Canada; in 1952 the USA men edged Brazil 57-53 as Clyde Lovelette put up a team-high 11 points.
- Video (YouTube): 2012 Gold Medal Game vs. France & USA interviews prior to 2012 game vs. Australia
- Complete Recap of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team
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The U.S. Olympic Women’s Basketball Team entered the 2012 Olympic Games in London as four-time defending champions, something no other women’s traditional team sport had done in the history of the Games. The squad continued to make history by capturing a fifth-straight Olympic gold. |
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The team pushed the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball winning streak to 41 games, which began with the 1992 bronze medal game.
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The USA featured three athletes playing in their third Olympic games – Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings and Diana Taurasi, who all went on to become four-time Olympic gold medalists in 2016.
 From left to right: Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird. |
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USA coach Geno Auriemma made his head coaching Olympic debut. He went on to become the USA’s first two-time Olympic head coach in 2016. He also served as a USA assistant coach for the gold medalist 2000 U.S. Olympic Team.
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Meeting rival Australia in the 2012 Olympic semifinals, the USA trailed 47-43 at halftime, marking their first halftime deficit in 12 years - since the third game of the 2000 Olympics. Outscoring Australia 22-12 in the third period, the U.S. went on to claim their closest victory of the tournament, 86-73, behind 14 points apiece from Tina Charles and Diana Taurasi.
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Both the USA and France entered the gold medal game with 7-0 records, but the USA cruised to an 86-50 win. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Candace Parker led the USA in the game with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
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Playing in their second Olympics were Seimone Augustus, Swin Cash, Sylvia Fowles, Candace Parker and Lindsay Whalen; while playing in their first Olympics were Tina Charles, Asjha Jones, Angel McCoughtry and Maya Moore.
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Nine of the 12 members of the 2012 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team returned to capture a gold medal in the 2016 Olympics, including Seimone Augustus, Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, Angel McCoughtry, Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi and Lindsay Whalen. |
