WNBA Veteran To Play For Russia At Olympics

June 16, 2008

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WNBA Veteran To Play For Russia At Olympics
WNBA player Becky Hammon will travel to Beijing this summer for the 2008 Olympics to play for the Russian team. Hammon, a 10-year WNBA veteran, has no genealogical connection to Russia, but was granted a Russian passport from the country when she previously played for a professional team in Moscow. Hammon's decision spurred US women's basketball coach Anne Donovan to call her a traitor.

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15 Comments

daryly60 4 years

this artical is not correct buy playing in russia 6 mo. out of the year her pro team there was able to get her granted russian citizenship they offered here a spot on te russian team before she was even invited to try out for team usa someone needs to check there facts before posting such a error filled article.

bughana 4 years

It is a good feeling to be in some other places specially because of your skills and talent. You may not have a continious opportunity in your home country thats one concrete reason you aim for more and it so happen that you found it somewhere else wow. So for me its fine very very fine to be out there for a good cause.

trackrac1979 4 years

Some people need to do their research before they comment on this. Coach Anne Donovan should be the one that we are talking about. For a coach that is representing our country to make rude and uncalled for comment about someone that she never gave an opportunity to play for team USA is totally WRONG! She is the one that is the abusing her power. Not only does it turn me off to her coaching but it makes me encourage Becky Hammon even more. Good for her for finally standing up for herself and not falling victim again. She is a great player that repeatidly is at the top of her game as well as the WNBA. Coach-do your job and coach!

jaalgo 4 years

She's not a traitor, she's a member of an olympic team from another country because she didn't make her own. Nothing wrong with that. I hope she scores tons of points which will show our selection committee just how wrong they were not to invite her. Lighten up everyone. Traitor! I think not.

em113 5 years

oh and this is from the article: "But Hammon said her actions were about getting an opportunity to play in the Olympics -- an opportunity she didn't have in the U.S. Hammon was not included on the first list of players invited to tryout for the U.S. squad." her decision makes total sense!

em113 5 years

wow, sour grapes. good for her. if she has options its her right to figure out what's best for her. it's her life...

MartiniLush 5 years

If she has a russian passport, isn't she a russian citizen then? If you are a citizen for the country, you should be able to play for that country. Lots of people hold dual citizenship. If she isn't a russian citizen and is just going to get more playing time, I think that is pretty lame.

syako 5 years

"Players go where to a team that will take them - there are U.S. basketball players all over the world." Yeah, but you go home and play for your COUNTRY for the olympics...

stephley 5 years

Geez, you sure you two aren't liberals? Players go where to a team that will take them - there are U.S. basketball players all over the world. If she plays and does well, it could lead to a future job. It's not as if she rejected the U.S. team because she thought Russia has a better shot at the gold. The U.S. team shouldn't be concerned about her if they thought she wasn't good enough for them. The Olympics is supposed to be about the athletes, not politics.

syako 5 years

:mob: Traitor! :P it's still not cool.

popgoestheworld 5 years

I had no idea that all you needed was a passport to participate in the Olympics on behalf of a country. That seems bizarre.

Renees3 5 years

Give me a break, I think Traitor is a little extreme. Heaven forbid she want to play on a team that she might actually get more playing time

syako 5 years

I'm so giddy for the Olympics! Two of our former LSU stars will be on the U.S. Team - Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles. There are going to TEAR IT UP! Geaux Tigers! Go USA! :P

UnDave35 5 years

I agree. She wouldn't be a star (but she'd be on the team) if she played for America. This is about her being selfish and wanting the spotlight on her. I hope Russia doesn't make the medal round.

syako 5 years

So if you have a passport, you can play on that country's team?? She is a traitor! :bossy:

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