Breanna Stewart and fellow moms on the US women’s basketball team are creating lasting memories while aiming for a historic eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the Paris Games. Apart from their quest for gold, they are relishing a rare bonding experience in Paris.
The team, with a 60-game winning streak, is gearing up to face Australia in the semifinals. Before the match, they have a significant celebration ahead – a birthday party for Stewart’s daughter Ruby, who turns 3 on the day of the game.
Unlike the strict pandemic protocols of the Tokyo Games, these Olympics in Paris allow for a more family-friendly environment. In Tokyo, only Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith were mothers on the team. However, in Paris, the team boasts five parents, including four moms and Brittney Griner, who recently welcomed a son with her wife.
Napheesa Collier mentioned that the presence of children has added an extra special element to the Paris Games. The children even held their mini Olympics while the team was busy with group play, fostering a unique camaraderie among the families.
The players, like Chelsea Gray, Diana Taurasi, and Breanna Stewart, are balancing motherhood with their Olympic journey. They are demonstrating the strength and resilience required to excel both on and off the court, with Taurasi’s wife Penny Taylor and Stewart’s wife Marta Xargay supporting them.
The presence of the children at the Paris Games is a testament to the evolving support for women in sports. U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve acknowledges the progress made in better policies for maternity leave and childcare, highlighting the evolving role of women in sports and society.
The moms on the team are showing remarkable strength as they juggle their roles as elite athletes and full-time mothers. The children bring a sense of normalcy and warmth to the high-pressure environment of the Olympics, offering a welcome distraction from the intense competition.
