Cierra Burdick honors Lady Vols legend Pat Summitt ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics

Cierra Burdick is making sure Lady Vols basketball is represented as a member of the U.S. women's 3x3 team at the Paris Olympics.

On Wednesday, Burdick wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, "Bringing the Vols back to the Olympics! I know Pat is smiling down on me."

In the tweet, she's holding up the sign, "I will give my all for Tennessee today!"

The U.S. begins play July 30 against Germany.

The history of Lady Vols basketball players in the Olympics began with Summitt, Cindy Brogdon, and Patricia Roberts in the 1976 Montreal Games, where Team USA won silver. That streak ended when Tamika Catchings retired in 2016 after winning her fourth Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games.

Ironically, Burdick discovered 3x3 basketball when she was cut by the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx. Shortly after, she was picked up by the Seattle Storm, where she didn't get a ton of playing time but played in a professional 3x3 team under the Seattle Storm and Force 10 Hoops ownership group.

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She went on to gain more 3x3 experience, winning gold at the 2021 FIBA 3x3 Women's AmeriCup, and being a part of the 2023 USA 3x3 Women's Pan American Games Team.

At Tennessee, Burdick played under the legendary coach Pat Summitt, who died in 2016. Burdick was on the coaches' All-SEC First Team, an AP All-SEC Second Team selection as a senior, and was an AP All-America honorable mention selection.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Cierra Burdick honors Lady Vols legend Pat Summitt ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics