PARIS — Something was missing from the Tokyo Olympics, and Cierra Burdick noticed immediately.
The 2015 Tennessee graduate, an All-American forward for the storied basketball program, couldn’t believe it. For the first time in Olympic history, there were no Lady Vols on the USA Basketball rosters at the Tokyo Games, either in traditional 5×5 or 3×3, the newest hoops event
Burdick has remedied that at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a member of the four-player women’s 3×3 team, which plays its second game, against Azerbaijan, on Wednesday. The Americans lost their opener against Germany.
“I’m super grateful to be able to bring the Lady Vol sisterhood back to the Olympic Games, it’s not something I take lightly,” Burdick said. “I know Pat (Summitt) is smiling down on me for sure. The Lady Vol sisterhood, and just the support system we have in Knoxville — and honestly worldwide, the Tennessee community is everywhere — to be able to represent them in the Games is incredible. Orange runs through me, and I’m gonna do my best to represent Rocky Top.”
