The 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team won its gold medal in Atlanta.
Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics, where the United States women’s team completed an undefeated tournament. The team defeated Brazil in the gold-medal game and finished with an 8–0 record.
The roster included established stars and future Hall of Famers such as Teresa Edwards, Lisa Leslie, Rebecca Lobo, Katrina McClain, Dawn Staley, and Sheryl Swoopes. Tara VanDerveer coached the team.
The Atlanta Games were especially significant for women’s basketball because they occurred just before the WNBA began play in 1997. The Olympic team’s visibility and success helped build interest in the professional league that followed.