The US women’s team duplicated the feat of the US men’s team by winning the gold. The team defeated Australia and the win is not only significant for the team but significant as well to one of its players, Lisa Leslie. This was yet another memorable Olympic run for Lisa Leslie. She is the only athlete to win four gold medals and she is also undefeated at the games. The last loss that was suffered by the team was in 1992 and after that time the US women’s team romped to 33-0 in the Olympic Games.

Lisa Leslie made sure that the team will get the win and the gold by scoring 14 points. But Leslie fouled out with 6:33 left in the gold medal match. By this time it didn’t mattered as the team has already the game on its side. The win by the team also brought the total to 26 current and former WNBA players who have earned their medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The WNBA was heavily represented on the games for this Beijing edition, with 39 current and former players on many teams that participate in the games. These players from the league participated for 10 to 12 countries in Beijing.

The win was also significant for Anne Donovan who became the first female to win the gold medal as a player and also led a team to gold as its head coach. The accomplishment by Leslie effectively ties that of Teresa Edwards as winning the most ever gold medals in women’s basketball. Leslie earned her gold in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 and Edwards on the other hand earned her gold in 1984, 1988, 1996 and 2000 and another bronze in 1992.

The 2008 season of the WNBA will resume play on August 28.