Ladies Court - Women’s Basketball News and Analysis

Hammon to be focus of ESPN feature on Olympic decision

by Joe on June 7th, 2008

Set your DVRs for Sunday morning as ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” will profile Becky Hammon’s decision to play for Russia in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Preview video clip here.

Here’s the full story from ESPN.com: Preview below.

Even though Hammon is not of Russian descent, speaks no Russian and is not a full-time resident, she was fast-tracked for Russian citizenship in February by the highest levels of Russian government.

Dual citizenship makes Hammon a precious commodity in the Russian league because two Russians must be on the floor at all times, and each club is allowed only two American players. That’s why American stars like Diana Taurasi (Italy) and Sue Bird (Israel) also have procured foreign passports.

But unlike Taurasi and Bird, Hammon has a Russian passport. Because Hammon has never competed in a sanctioned international competition for USA Basketball, FIBA rules allow her to represent another country in the Olympics. Capitalizing on the fact that FIBA rules allow one naturalized citizen to compete for each country, the Russians offered Hammon not only a passport but also an opportunity to play for them at the Olympics.

Hammon makes the maximum WNBA salary, approximately $95,000. Her Russian team pays her six times that much. Knowing that her character and her patriotism would be questioned in America, Hammon (and her agent Mike Cound) made sure it was worth the trouble. In March, she signed a four-year deal worth well more than $2 million. By agreeing to dual citizenship, Hammon nearly tripled her salary. “There’s nothing more American than taking advantage of an opportunity,” she said, smiling.

ESPN.com’s Mechelle Voepel’s reaction here.

The piece is very thorough, so if you can’t catch it on the tube, read it here.

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POSTED IN: FIBA, News, Off the Court, Olympics, WNBA