Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, July 28, 1994 TAG: 9407300030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITE|
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N. C. LENGTH: Medium
She led the Cavaliers to three NCAA Final Fours, but the one accomplishment she truly yearned for - a national championship - eluded her.
Staley, now a member of USA Basketball's women's team that will compete at the Goodwill Games Aug.2-7 in St. Petersburg, Russia, doesn't plan on experiencing that kind of disappointment again.
Staley's main goal now extends beyond the Goodwill Games to the highest achievement for women's basketball players in the United States - the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
``The fact that I didn't win a national championship left a real empty spot in me,'' Staley said Tuesday after scoring eight points in a 104-47 exhibition victory over USA Basketball's women's select team at Charlotte Coliseum.
``I'm fortunate to be getting another chance.''
Since graduating from UVa in 1992, Staley has spent time in the professional ranks with teams from France, Brazil and Spain, but she had been overlooked for select teams in her home country until Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer picked her for the 1994 U.S. World Championship team.
Staley averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 assists per game for the U.S. team, which won the bronze medal in June in Sydney, Australia.
``She's young, and I think a lot of coaches just hadn't worked with her,'' said VanDerveer, who is also guiding the Goodwill Games team and admits she's a ``big Dawn Staley fan.''
``This is the fourth summer I've worked with Dawn, and every summer she's gotten better,'' VanDerveer said. ``She's improved on her outside shooting and worked hard on her defensive game.
``As a coach, she's the kind of player you get once in a lifetime, and I'm going to take advantage of it while I can.''
Beyond Staley's athletic ability, VanDerveer is also pleased with the 5-foot-6, 128-pound Staley's intensity.
Even with her team up by 40 points with seven minutes to play Tuesday, Staley could be spotted on the bench, cheering and cavorting, attempting to will one of her teammate's shots into the basket.
``There's no doubt she gives us a spark,'' VanDerveer said. ``She goes after the ball and causes a lot of turnovers. Her intensity helps keep us focused.''
Staley said intensity is something she'll always have whether playing basketball or not. The question is whether she'll continue to be able to ``go out on the court and express what I'm feeling inside.''
Staley had arthroscopic surgery on her right knee a month ago and still doesn't feel completely up to speed.
``I was tentative [Tuesday] because of my knee, and I can't be that way anymore,'' she said. ``Sometimes when you're hurting for so long, you're scared to go out and do the things you used to do.''
But 100 percent or not, there's no doubt Staley is having fun playing with the best the U.S. has to offer in women's basketball - players such as Texas Tech's Sheryl Swoopes, Lisa Leslie of Southern California and Katie Smith of Ohio State.
``It's great,'' she said. ``Take the best players from the best college teams and put them all together. ... There's a lot of camaraderie. We're all young and we're all striving for the same thing.''
That would be the Olympics in 1996.
``It would be the pinnacle of my athletic career to win a gold medal at the Olympics,'' Staley said.
``I don't want to lose.''
by CNB