LONDON — Diana Taurasi and the U.S. women’s basketball team open play Saturday against a team they just pounded by 54 points.
Not that the opponent matters. Taurasi and the rest of the squad say they’re ready to play.
The U.S. begins its quest for a fifth consecutive gold medal against Croatia, which the Americans routed 109-55 a week ago in Istanbul.
“We’re anxious to finally get on the court and play and get rid of those feelings of being anxious and nervous or whatever feelings anyone on the team has,” Taurasi said.
Croatia’s star center, Marija Vrsaljko, will play after missing the teams’ first meeting because she was getting married.
Nike outfits Egyptians LONDON —
Two days after the country’s Olympic committee chairman said he opted for fakes made overseas because the real thing was too expensive, Nike said Friday it was donating gear to Egyptian athletes.
“We are extremely happy that while these athletes are enjoying the greatest sporting event they will be able to wear genuine Nike product,” the company said in a statement.
The country’s popular uprising and 17 months of political uncertainty drove away investors. Egypt’s foreign currency reserves dropped by more than one half after the uprising.
Boxx out, Lloyd in for U.S. GLASGOW, Scotland —
Coach Pia Sundhage said veteran Carli Lloyd will start in Boxx’s spot. Lloyd lost a starting job but came off the bench after Boxx was injured to score the winning goal against the French.
Sundhage said Boxx hopes to return later in the tournament.
Footnotes
Two-time Olympic medalist and team captain Jonathan Horton will only compete in four of six gymnastics events when team qualification begins Saturday. National champion John Orozco and trials winner Danell Leyva will do all six disciplines, leaving them as the only two eligible to compete for the all-around title and echoing Horton’s team-first mentality. … Olympic boxing official Garip Erkuyumcu was found dead in his London hotel room of an apparent heart attack. He was 73. … Talks continued in London regarding a woman judo athlete’s eligibility for Saudi Arabia after the sport’s governing federation said she would not be allowed a headscarf, citing safety issues. The country sent its first two female Olympians to the Games on the condition the women adhered to conservative Islamic traditions. … The South Korean sailing federation said coach Lee Jae-cheol was kicked out of the Olympics for driving drunk after attending a banquet in Weymouth, England. Police stopped Lee and fined him about $400. … India’s sports ministry is offering coaching jobs to all athletes who represent the country at the Olympics. The ministry of the National Institute of Sports would issue Olympians with a diploma in coaching, mandatory to coach in India.
The Associated Press
