Donovan Hopes To Lead Olympic Team To Gold

– Steve Daniel

A two-time All-American, National Player of the Year, Olympic gold medalist (as a player and assistant coach), Hall of Famer and coach of the 2004 WNBA-champion Seattle Storm, Anne Donovan ’83 has tasted success often. She knows well the hard work required for the recipe to come out just right – and is also aware of the pressure that comes with high expectations.

As head coach of the USA women’s basketball Olympic team, Donovan will be leading a squad of superstars to Beijing in August that many observers expect to bring home the gold, as happened at the three previous Summer Games. However, with little practice time and a field that features legitimate medal contenders in Russia and Australia, blazing a new path to gold won’t be easy.

“The goal, obviously, is a gold medal; nothing less will do,” Donovan said during a visit to her alma mater in May. But to achieve that will be difficult, she admitted. “The team doesn’t get together again until July 28, which is just one week before we have to be in Beijing. We’ve gone through three years of training since Athens and have never had four of our Olympians together.”

Donovan will be relying on the pride and talent of her players – primarily WNBA greats – as well as their acceptance of the roles she asks them to adopt. “The chemistry will hopefully come together quickly, but that is our biggest challenge. That is the thing that could stand in the way of a gold medal. I don’t mean chemistry just from a personality standpoint, but from a tactical standpoint as well.”

Commenting on the rewards of coaching the Olympic team, Donovan said, “The joy is that it is truly, truly what makes my blood rush. I am so patriotic. I started playing for our country when I was 15 years old.”