The USA women's basketball team trained and talked on Saturday (6th August) - ahead of their Olympic opener against Senegal.

The women's basketball tournament began on Saturday.

The U.S. team, coached by 'Hall of Famer' Geno Auriemma, are aiming for an unprecedented sixth consecutive gold at the Olympics.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Geno Auriemma, USA women's basketball team coach (on playing back-to-back matches on 7th and 8th August, against Senegal and Spain):
"It's the only back-to-back that we have, and then after that, I think they would prefer back-to-backs every day, so that they wouldn't have to come over for practice."

The United States are the overwhelming favourites to claim gold medals in Rio, and have won 41 consecutive Olympic contests. Their last loss came in the 1992 semi-finals.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Diana Taurasi, USA women's basketball team guard (on the Olympic Games opening ceremony):
"You know it was unbelievable because it was different than all the rest of them. Usually you go around the track, kind of doing your victory parade wave, but this one you came right through the middle of the stadium."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sylvia Fowles, USA women's basketball team centre:
"Anxious to get out there on the court, I'm not really nervous, I think I am more excited to get going, than to just go through this daily routine."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Brittney Griner, USA women's basketball team centre (on the chance of breaking the record for number of blocks in an Olympics):
"Well, that's my goal, to win obviously but blocking shots will help us win, so it's not bad trying to set that record."

The USA will play against Senegal on Sunday in Group B and they will also face Canada, China, Serbia and Spain.