NBA legends and former Miami Heat teammates LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are joining forces to executive produce a Netflix series about the 2008 United States men's Olympic basketball team.
The documentary, which is entitled The Redeem Team, will feature "unprecedented Olympic footage and behind-the-scenes material," thanks to Netflix working with the International Olympic Committee for the first time ever, according to Angelique Jackson of Variety.
Jon Weinbach, who directed the critically acclaimed The Last Dance docuseries on Michael Jordan, will serve as the director of The Redeem Team as well.
Wade, who was an integral part of the 2008 Olympic team along with James, said the following regarding the documentary:
"In 2008, I played with heroes of mine, All-Stars, friends and future teammates. Outside of winning and showing the world that we were still the most dominant, our other big challenge was changing the perception of what everyone thought about the NBA and USA Basketball! I'm excited for everyone to get an opportunity to go behind the scenes and see all the work that went into this iconic team—The Redeem Team!"
Led by legendary Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski on the sidelines and late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant on the court, the 2008 Olympic team succeeded in putting Team USA back on top of the basketball world.
Four years earlier at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, the United States settled for a disappointing bronze medal, which served as a catalyst for a campaign to put together the best possible team and coaching staff for Beijing in 2008.
That proved to be a success, as the roster was highlighted by current and future Hall of Famers such as James, Wade, Bryant, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh.
The United States went undefeated in the tournament and beat Spain 118-107 in the final to win gold.
The 2008 Olympics may have also set the stage for the formation of the Heat's "Big 3" in 2010, as LeBron and Bosh joined Wade in Miami, and went on to lead the Heat to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances and two championships.
Viewers across the world can begin watching The Redeem Team on Netflix when it officially drops on Oct. 7.
Team USA's Erin Jackson became the first Black woman in the history of the Winter Olympics to win a medal in speedskating with her victory Sunday in the women's 500 meters.
Jackson captured the gold medal with a time of 37.04 seconds, which edged out Japan's Miho Takagi by eight-hundredths of a second.
The 29-year-old Florida native didn't initially qualify for the Beijing Games after a stumble during the U.S. Olympic Trials, but teammate Brittany Bowe stepped aside to give Jackson the spot.
"Erin has earned her right to be on this 500-meter team," Bowe told reporters in January. "No one is more deserving than her to get an opportunity to bring Team USA home a medal. After that unfortunate slip, I knew in my mind before that night was even over that if it had to come down to a decision of mine, she could have my place."
Bowe, who still qualified for the Olympics in the 1,000- and 1,500-meter races, ended up taking part in the 500 anyway because other countries didn't use their full entry allocations. She finished 16th.
Jackson, a former inline skater who transitioned to speedskating in 2016, finished 24th at the 2018 Games in her first Olympic appearance.
She made rapid progress to emerge as one of the best skaters in the world. She arrived to Beijing as the leader in the ISU World Cup standings in the 500 meters.
"I wish I could describe how I feel. It is amazing," Jackson said after Sunday's win. "This medal means so much. It has been a tough couple of years and a tough beginning for this year. For this to come around like this, I am so happy."
Her victory also allows her to join fellow American Shani Davis as the only Black skaters to win long-track events at the Olympics, according to the Associated Press. Davis won the men's 1,000 meters at the 2006 and 2010 Games.
Jackson and Takagi were joined on the podium by the Russian Olympic Committee's Angelina Golikova, who earned the bronze.
The United States men's ice hockey team opened its 2022 Winter Olympics account in Beijing on Thursday with an 8-0 win over China.
Michigan star Brendan Brisson gave Team USA a 1-0 lead in the first period before Matty Beniers, Sean Farrell, Brian O'Neill, Ben Meyers and Noah Cates added to the goal tally. Farrell was the standout performer, scoring three goals and assisting on two more.
The U.S. nearly doubled China's shot total, finishing with 55 attempts on goal to 29 for the host country.
Halfway through the opening frame, the United States was unable to make a breakthrough. Thanks to an interference penalty to Fu Jiang, the U.S. capitalized on the power play. Brisson fired a wrist shot past Jieruimi Shimisi, also known as Jeremy Smith, the former Boston Bruins prospect and Colorado Avalanche netminder who gained the opportunity to represent China at the national team level.
Cates, O'Neill and Farrell broke things open in the second period as the United States had something to show for the dominance it was enjoying on the ice. It was an impressive 20 minutes from Farrell.
The Harvard star delivered a no-look pass to Cates as Team USA found a second goal.
Then it was Farrell's time to find the back of the net with 1:53 remaining in the period. The Chinese were struggling to defend in odd-man rushes, and the 20-year-old wing used his ample space to line up a shot that eluded Shimisi.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NHL draft, Beniers headed to China with plenty in the way of expectations. The Michigan star flashed his pinpoint accuracy when he deposited the puck into the top left corner with eight minutes left in the game.
The Seattle Kraken might be anchored to last place in the Pacific Division, but Beniers represents what should be a bright future in the Pacific Northwest.
The absence of NHL stars has opened up the field a bit for the men's ice hockey tournament, and the United States in particular is a major wild card with a roster that's almost entirely untested at the Olympic level.
When the first period concluded, it looked like the U.S. might have a difficult fight on its hands from China. As the game progressed, Team USA's talent advantage became apparent, and the squad began looking more cohesive.
The U.S. is back on the ice Saturday to play Canada. The United States is a +185 underdog (bet $100 to win $185) at DraftKings Sportsbook against the nine-time Olympic champion.
With Canada cruising past Germany, Saturday's winner has an opportunity to clinch Group A and secure passage to the quarterfinals.
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The much-anticipated showdown between the United States and Canada women's hockey teams at the 2022 Olympics on Tuesday went in favor of the Canadians.
Canada scored three goals in the second period to earn a 4-2 victory over the Americans. Both teams entered this matchup undefeated in Group A and having already clinched a berth in the quarterfinals.
The Canadians have been dominating the tournament so far. They won their first three games by a combined score of 29-3. The U.S. was coming off its best game of the Olympics with an 8-0 victory over Switzerland.
Tuesday's win gives Canada the top seed going into the eight-team playoff round. Team USA is the No. 2 seed, putting the two countries on a path to potentially play for a gold medal for the fourth consecutive Olympics.
Tuesday's Results
Canada 4, USA 2
Japan 3, Czech Republic 2 (shootout)
Sweden 3, Denmark 1
Finland 5, Russian Olympic Committee 0
Group A Standings
1. Canada: 4-0-0-0 (plus-28 goal differential)
2. United States: 3-0-0-1 (plus-14)
3. Finland: 1-0-0-3 (minus-9)
4. Russian Olympic Committee: 1-0-0-3 (minus-12)
5. Switzerland: 1-0-0-3 (minus-21)
Group B Standings
(wins, OT W, OT L, losses)
1. Japan: 2-1-1-0 (plus-6 goal differential)
2. Czech Republic: 2-0-1-1 (plus-2)
3. Sweden: 2-0-0-2 (minus-1)
4. China: 1-1-0-2 (0)
5. Denmark: 1-0-0-3 (minus-7)
Full standings via NBCOlympics.com. Teams in italics advanced to quarterfinals
The Americans were more aggressive on the offensive end in the defeat. They had a 53-27 advantage in total shots, but Canada made its opportunities count with four goals against Maddie Rooney.
Abbey Murphy missed a chance to put the U.S. up 1-0 in the first period when her attempt hit the post. Canada took an early advantage thanks to Brianne Jenner's power-play goal with just under six minutes to go in the opening frame.
Team USA did take a 2-1 lead midway through the second period thanks to goals from Dani Cameranesi and Alex Carpenter.
Trailing for the first time in these Olympics seemed to wake up the Canadians. They closed the second period with three goals in the span of 5:25 to take a 4-2 lead.
Jenner tied the game just 26 seconds after Carpenter's go-ahead score. Jamie Lee Rattray put Canada on top with her third goal of the tournament.
Marie-Philip Poulin put the cherry on top with a penalty-shot goal with 2:35 remaining in the second period.
Both defenses tightened up in the third period. Ann-Renee Desbiens was fantastic in the net for Canada. She had 51 saves in the game, most ever in the Olympics by a male or female goalie.
Of those 51 stops, 21 came in the third period.
In other action on Tuesday, Japan secured the top spot in Group B with a 3-2 win over the Czech Republic in a shootout. Hanae Kubo scored the only goal on 10 shots between the two teams in the shootout.
The U.S. will take on the Czech Republic in the first quarterfinal game on Thursday at 12:10 a.m. ET.
Sweden has had a fantastic turnaround after a rough start to the Olympics. After being outscored 6-2 in their first two games, the Swedes scored back-to-back wins over China and Denmark to reach the quarterfinals.
Emma Nordin, Lisa Johansson and Ebba Berglund all scored goals for Sweden in Tuesday's 3-1 victory over Denmark. They will take on Canada in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Finland salvaged group play with a 5-0 victory over the Russian Olympic Committee. The Finns had a rough draw to start the tournament with games against the U.S. and Canada.
A 3-2 loss to Switzerland left Finland winless heading into Tuesday's contest. Five different players scored for the team in the win. Anni Keisala stopped all 19 shots she faced from the Russians, and Finland will face Japan in the quarters on Saturday.
It was only the first day of the women's hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics, but longtime rivals Canada and the United States already appeared on another gold-medal collision course.
The Canadians were downright dominant in a 12-1 win over Switzerland, while the Americans took care of business against a medal contender in Finland 5-2.
Japan and the Czech Republic were the other winners from Thursday's action in Beijing.
Thursday's Results
Czech Republic 3, China 1
Canada 12, Switzerland 1
Japan 3, Sweden 1
United States 5, Finland 2
Day 1 Recap
Perhaps what's most impressive about Canada's rout of Switzerland is that it racked up a dozen goals without Marie-Philip Poulin, arguably the top women's player, finding the net and recording just a single assist. It's a testament to the team's depth.
Four players scored at least two goals (Sarah Fillier, Natalie Spooner, Blayre Turnbull and Laura Stacey) and a trio of skaters picked up at least three assists (Spooner, Claire Thompson and Rebecca Johnston) as Canada opened the scoring after just a minute and never looked back.
The Canadians finished the game with an eye-popping 70 shots on goal.
After a hard-fought opening 10 minutes, the United States was able to seize control of its opener with a pair of goals less than three minutes apart by Amanda Kessel and Alex Carpenter.
Team USA put the game out of reach with a strong second period when it outshot the Finns 19-2. Kendall Coyne Schofield scored both goals in the frame to increase the lead to 4-0.
Carpenter added her second of the day for the U.S. in the third, while Susanna Tapani scored twice for Finland on the power play.
One key question coming out of the contest is the health of Brianna Decker, who was stretchered off the ice in the first period after getting hit from behind. She didn't return to the contest.
China, as the host nation, is taking part in the women's hockey tournament for the first time since 2010. It received a strong performance from goalie Chen Tiya, who made 33 saves, to remain competitive against a Czech side with a shot at the podium.
Tereza Radova, Denisa Krizova and Michaela Pejzlova were the goal scorers for the Czech Republic. Mi Le netted the only goal for the hosts.
Japan provided the only upset of the day with its triumph over Sweden.
Shiori Koike opened the scoring late in the first period for the Japanese, who have never finished better than sixth in the Olympics. After Maja Nylen-Persson tied the game for the Swedes, Rui Ukita put Japan ahead for good. Haruna Yoneyama added an empty-netter to seal the win.
Play in the women's hockey tournament continues with a pair of games Friday: the Russian Olympic Committee vs. Switzerland and Denmark vs. China.
The United States women's hockey team got off to a winning start at the 2022 Winter Olympics on Thursday, beating Finland 5-2 in a preliminary-round game in Beijing.
Captain Kendall Coyne Schofield and Alex Carpenter scored twice for Team USA in the victory, while Amanda Kessel found the back of the net as well.
After watching rival Canada rout Switzerland 12-1 in its first game of the tournament earlier that day, the Americans answered with a one-sided win of their own against a traditionally tough Finland team.
While the United States is the reigning gold medalist in women's Olympic hockey, Finland won bronze four years ago in Pyeongchang and has played for a medal in all but one of the six occasions that women's hockey has been contested at the Olympics.
Finland also won a silver medal at the 2019 world championships and bronze at the 2021 world championships, but it looked overmatched Thursday.
Team USA got the scoring started just past the midway point of the first period when Kessel took matters into her own hands by driving to the front of the net and beating Finnish goaltender Anni Keisala:
Kessel, the younger sister of longtime NHL forward Phil Kessel, is in search of her third career Olympic medal and her second gold.
The United States made it 2-0 before the first period was over, as Carpenter recorded a power-play goal off a beautiful cross-ice pass from Kelly Pannek:
After winning a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Carpenter was left off the 2018 Olympic team, but the Massachusetts native persevered and was selected this time around.
The speedy and crafty Coyne Schofield took over during the second period and doubled the Team USA lead to 4-0 with a pair of goals in 64-second span.
The forward roared down the wing and beat Keisala with a wicked wrister to extend the Americans' lead to 3-0:
Coyne Schofield then deflected a Savannah Harmon shot into the net to make it 4-0.
The Americans were dominant in the second period, and as pointed out by LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune, the Finns generated almost no scoring opportunities:
Finland finally got on the board and broke up goaltender Maddie Rooney's shutout just over three minutes into the third period on a power-play goal from Susanna Tapani.
The Americans answered just about five minutes later, though, when Carpenter scored for the second time in the game, making good on a quality pass from Abby Roque to restore a four-goal advantage:
It appeared as though the game would end with a 5-1 score, but a review took place after the final horn sounded, and it was determined that a shot by Tapani with 2:20 left went off the post and in, so the final 140 seconds had to be replayed.
Little changed, though, aside from the Americans winning 5-2 rather than 5-1.
Overall, the United States took the play to Finland, outshooting the Finns 52-12 and winning 66 percent of the faceoffs.
There was one negative for Team USA out of the contest in the form of an injury to a key player.
Forward Brianna Decker, who was playing in her third consecutive Olympics, suffered an apparent leg injury midway through the first period and had to be stretchered off the ice.
Chris Peters of Daily Faceoff explained how big of a loss Decker could potentially be:
ESPN's Greg Wyshynski later reported that Decker was seen on crutches and with her left leg in a walking boot after the game. USA Hockey also confirmed that Decker will miss the remainder of the Olympics.
Decker has been one of Team USA's top forwards for over a decade with 170 points in 146 career games for the national team, so replacing her production will be a huge challenge.
Still, the Americans played at a high level without Decker for most of Thursday's game, and there is no question that they are still the gold medal co-favorite along with Canada.
The United States and Canada have played for Olympic gold five out of six times, and they appear to be on a collision course again in Beijing.
Team USA will look to improve to 2-0 in Group A preliminary-round play Saturday when it faces the Russian Olympic Committee.
With the pressure of the Tokyo Olympics behind him, Draymond Green opened up about the mounting concern inside the Team USA locker room following the opening-round loss to France.
Speaking to Carmelo Anthony on his YouTube show What’s In Your Glass?, Green shared notes from a players-only meeting Team USA held after the 83-76 defeat (comments begin at 5:45):
“We definitely felt it. After that first game game, we had a meeting. It was just players-only and talking about what we felt we needed to do. Like aside from what the coaches felt, aside from what anybody was saying, what did we feel like we needed to do? And then after that meeting, it was kind of like the OK for everybody to be themselves. Normally we have like 4-5 weeks to prepare. We had two weeks from the start of camp to the first game. There wasn’t much time to really figure it out. ... So when we lost that first game, it felt like the world was ending. Because France beat the world championship team in 2019, and although none of us played on that team, you still hear that and you still feel that when you’re apart of Team USA. So when they beat us the first game, you hear everybody talking about how much the world has caught up to the United States. ... But we knew we blew that f--king game. ... So we knew if we corrected some things and played our brand of basketball ... we were going to beat the hell out of everybody.”
The United States bounced back in pool play with a 120-66 victory over Iran and a 119-84 win over the Czech Republic before steamrolling its way through the knockout round.
That led to a gold-medal rematch against France in which the Americans came out on top, 87-82.
Whatever the players ultimately hashed out after the loss to France, the results are hard to argue with. Team USA won its fourth consecutive gold medal, and Green launched on an epic tweetstorm calling out commentators who doubted the Americans would win.
As much as the talk at the time centered on how the rest of the world was catching up to the United States in basketball, it appears there's still a sizable gap.
Considering the Americans only had their full team together for a handful of days before the Games opened—thanks to a later-than-usual NBA postseason—Green saw the gold medal more as a statement of how quickly everyone bought in.
Now the United States has another three years to try to stay ahead of countries like France, Slovenia and Spain that have a legitimate chance to make a run at the 2024 Games in Paris.
As the Tokyo Games came to a close Sunday, American women helped the country take the lead in total gold medals thanks to victories in basketball, volleyball and cycling omnium.
It was American Jennifer Valente's victory in the latter, in which she survived a frightening multi-racer crash that included a previous two-time gold medalist, that earned the United States both its first win in the sport and its 39th gold medal of the Games.
Her win capped off an Olympics in which female athletes deservedly grabbed headlines for their excellence on the field, court, mat and in the pool.
Women accounted for 66 of the United States' medals in the Tokyo Games, a record for any nation in Olympic history.
Final Medal Count
Complete list at Olympics.com.
7 Straight Golds for Team USA in Women's Hoops
Team USA women's basketball won its seventh straight Olympic gold medal Sunday, defeating host country Japan 90-75. It was a win that further solidified the country's dominance in international play and, for two of its most respected players, established their legacies as the most decorated.
Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi each won her fifth gold medal, making them the most decorated basketball players in United States Olympic history, regardless of gender.
"They've done so much for USA Basketball that the rest of us players are just continuing to try and return the favor and make sure that they realize how much we appreciate them," teammate Breanna Stewart said, per ESPN's Mechelle Voepel.
Their leadership and superb play from Stewart, Brittney Griner and reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson fueled the team in a mostly uncontested competition.
Griner and Wilson dominated the middle Sunday to the tune of 30 and 19 points, respectively, while Stewart added another 14.
The game marked Dawn Staley's final as head coach as she stepped down following the win. "Our country has a lot of great coaches that can get the job done. Me, being a part of I believe six, that's enough. I'm full, I'm full," she said, per USA Today's Dan Wolken.
Takada Maki, arguably Japan's best during these Games, scored 17 points for the host country en route to a silver medal.
US Volleyball Makes History with 1st Gold
Team USA women's volleyball didn't just defeat Brazil to capture the organization's first gold medal Sunday in the Olympics, it blanked the runners-up, beating them in straight sets. A dominant team throughout the Games, it had lost only one of its eight total matches over the course of the competition.
Jordan Larson, in her third Olympics, delivered the final kill to send Brazil to its first loss. She spoke on her emotions following the victory, per Olivia Reiner of USA Today. "I've cried more in the last 24 hours than I think I have in my career. I'm not an emotional player, emotional person, but I think just the emotions got the best of me. I'm now in kind of this euphoria and like shock state."
Also in shock? Brazil, which entered the contest unbeaten but was soundly defeated.
American coach Karch Kiraly touted the credibility of Brazil and its history of denying the U.S. in Olympic competition. "Brazil is a legend in indoor volleyball, both on the women's side and the men's side...we lost to them in the final in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London."
Team USA accomplished the goal without star spiker Jordan Thompson, who also missed Friday's semifinal against Serbia, making the team's victories in both rounds that much more impressive and memorable.
Showing grit and tenacity, a trademark of the United States' efforts in this year's Games, the women of Team USA volleyball now take their place in the history books.
The Tokyo Olympics concludes Sunday with what will undoubtedly be an awe-inspiring closing ceremony, but before that, there are still several dozen medals to be earned by world-class athletes on the grandest stage in sports.
The United States' women's basketball team will look to cap off a tournament it has dominated by winning its seventh consecutive gold medal.
Team USA's women's volleyball will also look to add to the country's gold-medal count in its final against Brazil.
Women's Basketball Seeks Historic Gold Against Home Team
In order for the U.S. women's basketball team to capture a seventh straight Olympic gold medal, it will have to defeat host nation Japan.
Reigning WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson will celebrate her 25th birthday as she takes the court for the game. The Las Vegas Aces forward has been among the best players in the Olympics, scoring double digits in every game but one.
She saw a reduced role in the semis against Serbia, but that only served to freshen her up and allow her to focus on a gold-medal game, wherein the U.S. will need her in order to win.
Wilson and fellow Olympic rookie Chelsea Gray know exactly what they are playing for.
"Legacy. It's a standard that USA Basketball has set," Gray told the media following her team's victory over Australia. "There's a lot of great people who have come through this program, some that are still playing."
Two such people are Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi who, at 40 and 39, respectively, may well be competing in their final Games. Their veteran leadership has been invaluable.
Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner have come up big for the team too in just their second Olympics.
The team will look to utilize what has been a stifling defense throughout the competition to thwart a Japan team that is vastly superior from beyond the arc and touts similar stats. The teams met before in the group stage in a game won by the Americans.
Bird, Taurasi, Wilson, Stewart, Griner and the rest of the team take the court Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Team USA Women's Volleyball Battles Brazil for Gold
U.S. women's volleyball head coach Karch Kiraly choked up as he stood in front of the microphone following his team's victory over Serbia, with tears welling up in his eyes. "I want them to experience standing at the top of the podium," he told reporters.
This was a coach whose love for his team and players was evident. He had just watched them overcome the world champions in game that showed their maturity and determination.
The team put away Serbia in decisive fashion, winning in straight sets, thanks to strong showings from opposite Andrea Drews and outside hitter Jordan Larson. The team will hope to have spiker Jordan Thompson back for the final after she sat out the Serbia match with an ankle injury.
The U.S. will need her if it hopes to keep alive its gold-medal aspirations.
Brazil has not been as convincing throughout the tournament, but it has found success through its blocks.
Four players on the team have managed three blocks each.
The U.S. team is surprisingly loose given the enormity of the moment facing them Sunday, though.
"People say we're going to be under so much pressure because we've never won the gold medal," Larson said, per Steve Drumwright of Team USA. "But we're under no pressure because we've never done it. Why not go out swinging?"
The U.S. competes for volleyball gold Sunday at 12:30 a.m. ET.
