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Andscape at the Olympics

Jewell Loyd Olympic diary: ‘You’re here and your role is different’

Six-time WNBA All-Star talks about her role on Team USA, being a tourist in Paris, trading Olympic pins and more


Andscape at the Olympics is an ongoing series exploring the Black athletes and culture around the 2024 Paris Games.


PARIS — Seattle Storm guard, two-time WNBA champion and six-time WNBA All-Star Jewell Loyd is the latest player sharing insight into her life on and off the court through a video diary with Andscape during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal and former G League Ignite forward Ron Holland participated in a monthly video and diary for the 2023-24 season. NBA players Draymond Green, Vince Carter, Trae Young, CJ McCollum, Fred VanVleet, De’Aaron Fox, Cade Cunningham, James Wiseman and Josh Jackson have participated in previous diaries.

In Part 3 of her video diary, Loyd talks about her different role in Paris with Team USA compared to in the WNBA, traveling with her girlfriend Téa Adams, being able to be a tourist in Paris during her downtime, her play in Game 1 against Japan, assessing Belgium going into Game 2, trading Olympic pins and more.

“It’s a mindset of you’re here and your role is different,” Loyd said. “Every time you’re on the court, the things you do help the team win, and that’s what I’m about — winning.

“It’s always interesting because your role is so different. So sometimes you can get in your head like, ‘I didn’t get enough shots, I didn’t do my job, I’m not good enough. What’s going on? Why didn’t coach play me? Why didn’t I do this?’ and all these things. Then you realize, ‘my 10 minutes, my 15 minutes, my 20 minutes, all these minutes are for us to win. That’s the end goal, to win a game.’ “

Part 1: Jewell Loyd Olympic diary: ‘This one is going to be special’
Part 2: Jewell Loyd Olympic diary: ‘You’re constantly reminded why you are here’

Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape. He used to be able to dunk on you, but he hasn’t been able to in years and his knees still hurt.