Rio 2016: The best team you’ve never heard of play basketball for the U.S. | CNN

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Sports

Rio 2016: The best team you’ve never heard of play basketball for the U.S.

Published 4:48 AM EDT, Tue August 2, 2016
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Team USA center Brittney Griner (far right) will try and lead her team to its sixth consecutive Olympic gold in Rio 2016.
Team USA center Brittney Griner (far right) will try and lead her team to its sixth consecutive Olympic gold in Rio 2016.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Members of the 2016 USA Basketball Women's National team pose before a pre-Olympic exhibition. The team is riding a 41-game winning streak dating back to 1992, and is 56-1 since the U.S. boycott of the Summer Olympics in 1980.
Members of the 2016 USA Basketball Women's National team pose before a pre-Olympic exhibition. The team is riding a 41-game winning streak dating back to 1992, and is 56-1 since the U.S. boycott of the Summer Olympics in 1980.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Point guard Sue Bird is a nine-time WNBA All-Star, three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA tournament champion with the University of Connecticut. Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers has called her one of his favorite point guards -- men or women -- of all time.
Point guard Sue Bird is a nine-time WNBA All-Star, three-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time NCAA tournament champion with the University of Connecticut. Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers has called her one of his favorite point guards -- men or women -- of all time.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Diana Taurasi is one of three members of Team USA , along with Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings, gunning for their fourth consecutive Olympic gold.
Diana Taurasi is one of three members of Team USA , along with Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings, gunning for their fourth consecutive Olympic gold.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Geno Auriemma (center), is gunning for his second straight gold as head coach of the USA Basketball women's national team. He is also coming off his 11th NCAA title with the Connecticut Huskies, a record. UConn were 38-0 and notched their fourth college basketball title in a row.
Geno Auriemma (center), is gunning for his second straight gold as head coach of the USA Basketball women's national team. He is also coming off his 11th NCAA title with the Connecticut Huskies, a record. UConn were 38-0 and notched their fourth college basketball title in a row.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Center Tina Charles takes a shot during the London 2012 Olympic Games women's semifinal game against Australia. The U.S. won 86-73.
Center Tina Charles takes a shot during the London 2012 Olympic Games women's semifinal game against Australia. The U.S. won 86-73.
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/GettyImages
Elena Delle Donne of USA Basketball is introduced at an exhibition against the reserve team in preparation for Rio.
Elena Delle Donne of USA Basketball is introduced at an exhibition against the reserve team in preparation for Rio.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Seimone Augustus (#5) and Angel McCoughtry (#8) celebrate with the rest of the U.S. women's basketball team after defeating France 86-50 to win the gold medal at London 2012.
Seimone Augustus (#5) and Angel McCoughtry (#8) celebrate with the rest of the U.S. women's basketball team after defeating France 86-50 to win the gold medal at London 2012.
Lisa Leslie (#9) won four Olympic gold medals with the U.S. before retiring from basketball in 2009.
Lisa Leslie (#9) won four Olympic gold medals with the U.S. before retiring from basketball in 2009.
FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images
Maya Moore, in white, goes up for a shot against France's Florence Lepron during the gold medal game in London 2012.
Maya Moore, in white, goes up for a shot against France's Florence Lepron during the gold medal game in London 2012.
Getty Images
Former U.S. basketball Olympian Nancy Lieberman -- a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, and current assistant with the NBA's Sacramento Kings -- says the Team USA basketball players are the best female athletes in the world.
Former U.S. basketball Olympian Nancy Lieberman -- a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, and current assistant with the NBA's Sacramento Kings -- says the Team USA basketball players are the best female athletes in the world.
Women's Sports Foundation
Griner (L) and Taurasi celebrate after winning the WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. The pair will also partner in Rio for the U.S. women's national team.
Griner (L) and Taurasi celebrate after winning the WNBA championship with the Phoenix Mercury in 2014. The pair will also partner in Rio for the U.S. women's national team.
Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
Members of the U.S. women's basketball team celebrate after defeating France in London 2012, to continue a 41-game winning streak stretching back 20 years.
Members of the U.S. women's basketball team celebrate after defeating France in London 2012, to continue a 41-game winning streak stretching back 20 years.
Getty Images
Part of the Team USA's incredible success is its closeness, with a number of players teaming during the six-month WNBA season before playing together in overseas leagues.
Part of the Team USA's incredible success is its closeness, with a number of players teaming during the six-month WNBA season before playing together in overseas leagues.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images North America/Getty Images

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