Women's Hoops Blog

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. While its her first year on the Washington beat, she has covered the Storm since its inception. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!"

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August 6, 2008 1:43 PM

Aussies say Team USA played dirty

Posted by Jayda Evans

You saw the black eye Penny Taylor sported after her Australian national team lost to Team USA for the Diamond Ball Tournament title on Wednesday. Now her teammates are accusing the Americans of deliberatly trying to knock the Aussies out.

Storm star Lauren Jackson wasn't quoted in the story about the physical nature of the game, but she did say that her team didn't play nearly as well as it could and lost by only four points. "We're pretty confident going into the Games," she told The Australian.

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Posted by norwester

2:24 PM, Aug 06, 2008

That's funny. I guess there's a difference between intense and physical. I think that it was physical for an international game, but I didn't feel that both teams were really going all-out. Penny admits that it's an occupational hazard. It's amusing that instead it's Harrower and Batkovic worrying about the physicality.

Perhaps I was projecting because I didn't really care who won what was essentially an exhibition game. The players seemed to be having fun, or at least LJ was smiling and laughing with several of the Americans throughout the game (when play was stopped).

Posted by suebie

3:15 PM, Aug 06, 2008

Thanks for the locker room material, Batkovic.

Posted by good ol' george

6:30 PM, Aug 06, 2008

Two words - sour grapes. Or would that be sour vegemite?
Hopefully, this won't end up in another basketbrawl like the Sparks and the Shock last month if the two teams meet again. That is one thing FIBA or the Olympics don't need.

Posted by zebb

10:19 PM, Aug 06, 2008

The Aussies better show that they're a better team or else Batkovic will cry again. LOL.

Posted by R U DUN

10:58 PM, Aug 06, 2008

That's unfortunate. I think most of the players like the Aussies and would be less likely to play rough against them than any other team. JMHO.
Even if they really believe this it might have been a better choice to bring it up after the Olympics. Not likely in thier best interest to get the USA Team all riled up right now.
Kinda like kicking the sleeping dog when you're in a cage with it.
Unless it's true, of course.

Posted by ars

10:50 AM, Aug 07, 2008

Kicking a sleeping dog, that's funny. I think the comments that they weren't completely ready and hadn't had enough time to prepare was sort of interesting because the US certainly has not had time on their side, yet they beat them anyway. I also doubt that anyone on that US team would intentionally try to take another play out just to win. Not even Candace P. So, looks like another battle is on...See, I still worry about LJ's state after these Olympics. Straight from her mouth she said if the Aussies won gold, she could retire on that...and then really, what if they lose?

Posted by Diane

11:03 AM, Aug 07, 2008

If Australia loses-

Lauren will come back, be mad at Sue for awhile for winning gold, then lead the Storm to another championship!

Just like in '04.

Then she'll focus on the Aussies winning gold in the '10 Worlds and '12 Olympics.