Team USA Standout Speaks Out About Olympics Role Amid Starting Lineup Shift
The US Women's National Basketball Team won its 60th consecutive game on Friday after defeating Australia, 85-64.
One of Team USA's best performances came from Las Vegas Aces star guard Jackie Young, who finished the semifinal win with 14 points and 5 assists in 20 minutes played.
Team USA cruises past Australia, 85-64 🇺🇸
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 9, 2024
Stewie: 16 PTS, 6 REBS, 5 AST
Jackie Young: 14 PTS, 5 AST pic.twitter.com/8f0m9Sf72O
This was Young's second straight game in Team USA's starting five after coming off the bench in every previous Paris Olympics game.
Given that Team USA is loaded with the world's best female basketball players, competition for playing time is intense. And Young discussed this with Arielle Chambers of Andscape in an interview that was released on August 8.
"I think just by being patient," Young said when asked how she managed to insert herself into Team USA's starting lineup. "We don't know our minutes coming into each game. But just by staying ready, being locked in.
"And I think the biggest thing for me is being locked in on the defensive end," Young continued. "I knew my role coming in to [the Olympics] would be to play good defense and disrupt [opponents] on offense."
Team USA's starting fives during the Paris Olympics group stage included veteran guards Diana Taurasi and Chelsea Gray.
But after those two scored 4 total points between them on 2 of 12 shooting from the field and 0 of 7 from three through the group stage, Young (who scored 18 points off the bench against Germany on August 4) took Taurasi's spot in the starting lineup.
Jackie Young off the bench vs Germany:
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) August 4, 2024
19 PTS
4 RBS
4 STL
2 AST
7-13 FG
5-8 3P
27 MIN
Team USA wins, 87-68! 🇺🇸 #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/y31pjoUJ1o
Both she and Team USA have thrived ever since.
"Just by everybody being able to accept whatever role that is for this team in order for us to win a gold medal," Young responded when asked how Team USA's star-studded roster has been able to gel together in Paris.
"We have a lot of great pieces, a lot of great players. And so I think making sacrifices is the biggest thing, and just accepting whatever role in order to win."
Young's patience and sacrifice eventually earned her a spot in Team USA's starting five. And after her semifinal performance on Friday, fans can expect to see her starting in Sunday's gold medal match as well.
GRANT YOUNG
Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.