Compliments of USA Basketball, cstv.com has a wonderfully extensive Q&A with Anne Donovan. She reflects on her long history (almost 30 years) playing on and coaching National teams. Here, Donovan speaks to the on-going success of the women's team:

Q: How important is it to the USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team program to have a core group of athletes who are passionate about playing for their country return again and again to don the USA jersey?

AD: It's the biggest reason we've been able to keep the gold in our hands. Having that quality of athlete motivated with so much pride for what the red, white and blue represents. It is the sole reason we've been able to hang onto the gold. Athletes like Lisa Leslie, Dawn Staley and Sheryl Swoopes who were committed to the growth of this program, who carried the torch. When Teresa Edwards moved on, they carried the torch. The fact that they're still with us and eventually they'll pass that torch to Sue Bird, (Tamika) Catchings, (Diana) Taurasi and a handful of others. That consistency is so important. It's a mind-set, it's a mentality, it's a sense of pride that you can't necessarily cultivate. Lisa Leslie, she had it the second she walked into USA Basketball. Same thing with Sheryl, Dawn, I think that those kinds of things need to live on in order for our tradition to continue."

Meanwhile, down in Raleigh, Duke coach Gail Goestenkors watches Tennesse's Candace Parker try out for the final three slots open on the National Team and wonders what might have been.

The team will also host area servicemen and servicewomen, as well as their children, at practice today as part of the USA Basketball Hoops for Troops Program presented by State Farm. You can see photos of the practices here.

Still no word who the final members of the team will be, though there is a USOC teleconference with Donovan and "players to be named" tomorrow at 2:30.