The 1996 U.S. women’s Olympic team defeated Brazil in the gold-medal game before its 2026 Hall of Fame induction.
The United States won the Atlanta Olympic final 111–87 on August 4, 1996. The victory gave the U.S. women their third Olympic gold medal in basketball and completed an undefeated tournament.
The roster featured stars including Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Teresa Edwards, Dawn Staley and Rebecca Lobo. Coach Tara VanDerveer led the team, which combined established veterans with players who became central figures in the growth of women’s basketball.
The team is widely credited with helping launch the WNBA, which began play in 1997. Its Hall of Fame recognition is for the team as a unit, rather than for one individual player’s statistics.