Gold may be the color of choice for every Olympian, but actually leaving town with that particular “precious medal” is a whole other matter.

Mercury teammates Diana Taurasi and Penny Taylor will learn that lesson first-hand in their first trip to Greece in the upcoming weeks as international basketball opponents. Playing for Team Australia, Taylor has a legitimate shot of going up against Taurasi and her 2004 USA Basketball Women’s Senior National Team. But since both teams are in different preliminary round groupings, a possible USA vs. Australia matchup wouldn’t even occur until the quarterfinals at the earliest.

“That's the one everybody wants to watch,” Taurasi said, “but you've got to win every single game until you get there. They're the two best teams, so we'll see.”

Aside from Taylor on the opposing bench, the WNBA’s No. 1 overall draft pick this year will have some familiar faces on her U.S. team. She’ll be joined by league stars Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes and Tamika Catchings, as well as former UConn teammates Swin Cash and Sue Bird.

“When we're on the court,” Taurasi said, referring to her fellow Husky alums, “we've still got that connection from a while ago, so I'm definitely looking forward to playing with them.”

Across the court, Taylor has the Australian version of a basketball dream team working for her.

“I’ve known a lot of them, playing on the world stage either in Europe or in Australia, national teams or world championships,” Taylor said of her Aussie teammates. “There are no surprises there, or anyone I haven’t played with before. Lauren Jackson, of course. We played together for three years when we were young, so it’ll be nice to play together again. Sandy Brondello, who’s an awesome player to play with anywhere, Rachael Sporn, Allison Tranquilli, Trish Fallon. They’re all really great, fantastic players.

“It’ll be a little different from the Olympic team I went and saw in June (at the qualifiers). Once we get in and get some time together, I think we’ll be fine and right on track. I think we’ve always got a chance for the gold.”

If Brondello’s name sounds familiar, it’s probably because the 2004 Games mark her fourth foray into Olympic competition. She’s also played in the 1988, ’96 and 2000 Games.

“With our team,” Taylor said, “Sandy will be the first female basketballer to go to four Olympics. That’s a pretty big achievement.”

Between events, Taylor and Taurasi are unsure exactly how much free time they’ll have to play tourist. But when any away time pops up, the two say they would like to check out the local cuisine, as well as catch some fellow Olympians at work.

“I like swimming,” Taylor said, “so I’d go support them if I could. I’m not a good spectator, though. I’m a good participator, not a spectator.”

Taurasi added, “I always love the swimming and diving, too. I think the diving is so phenomenal. I definitely want to check out the track and field. What they do and how much they train, it's really fascinating.”

While her Mercury teammates will use the month-long break to rest up from a three-month stretch that’s already resulted in a definite improvement over the 2003 season, Taurasi doesn’t think a recent hip injury will limit her in any way in Athens. She says time off would be nice, but a chance to represent the United States is nicer.

“It's a give and take,” Taurasi explained. “My teammates say, `Oh man, you get to go to the Olympics,’ and I say, `Oh man, you get to go on vacation.’ We're going to Greece on vacation, but we've got to work every single day and the pressure, and the intensity of being over there is going to be overwhelming.

“I've got a trip that's going to last a lifetime. Going to Athens, going to the Olympics, I'm just going to try and soak it up as much as possible. The way I look at it, who knows when I'll ever be able to have this opportunity again. You never know. So, I'm not looking at it as a negative experience at all.”

Taylor, who’s weathered a physical first half of the WNBA season of her own, added, “Diana and I are young and our bodies are fit and healthy. It’s all positive for me. It’s the Olympics, but I’m not feeling any stress. I’m looking forward to going to Greece.”

With so many high-caliber players competing, the amount of playing time is a question mark for any participant. But when it comes down to it, everybody will just be happy to represent their respective countries when the preliminary basketball rounds kick off Saturday, August 14.

“Whatever minutes come my way,” Taurasi said, “I'll be happy. I'm not going to complain, I'm not going to make a scene. Whatever they give me, I'll be happy. Five, 10, 20, two, water towels, I'm there. I'm in Greece.”

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