South Dakota native and Russia guard Becky Hammon warms up with her team before a game against the U.S. on Monday in Haining, China.

Haining, China ? Becky Hammon imagined this moment for a long, long time: Playing in the Olympics, hitting the winning shot, climbing the medals podium.

She still might. Only her vision now comes in a different shade.

Raised on the prairie, schooled at Colorado State and now starring for the San Antonio Silver Stars, she’s going to Beijing wearing the Russian red.

“We always used to watch the Olympics as a family growing up,” Hammon said in an exclusive interview with the Associated Press. “My dream was winning a gold medal for the United States.”

“Now even though the dream changed a little bit, it’s been kind of bigger than I expected in a way because this story has caught the world by storm. I’m wondering why this girl from South Dakota got caught up in this worldwide story.”

Hammon’s odyssey began in March when she wasn’t in the 29-player pool picked to select the U.S. Olympic team. So she chose another option.

The 31-year-old point guard plays for a Russian club team during the winter and became a naturalized citizen there. Because she hadn’t played for the United States in any major FIBA-sanctioned international events, she was allowed to compete for Russia.

Fluent on the court, Hammon admits she doesn’t speak Russian well and likely won’t improve much before Friday’s Olympic opener.

“Not very good,” she said, laughing. “I need to learn the language. I’m working on it. I’ve only been over there for a year or two, and it’s a difficult language. I know a few words, but I need to get a lot more words. Most of the girls speak English so it’s fine.”

Although some critics say she shouldn’t be allowed to play for Russia, Hammon said she thinks she’s OK.

“If people really do have a hard time with it they should take it up with the Olympic committee or FIBA. I’m playing well within the rules, and I think it’s a little strange. It happens all the time in the Olympics. For people to get maybe upset or bent out of shape about me is strange, because this is something the United States has done many times,” she said. “There have been many foreign athletes that have come and competed for the U.S. and won medals.”

If she can lead Russia to a gold medal, she potentially will earn $200,000. Given a choice, she’d prefer not to face the Americans along the way.

“I think everyone wants to see the Russia-America matchup.” Hammon said. “If I have to play the United States, obviously I’m going to go out there and compete to win, but that’s not what I want. I know it’s what everyone else wants, but it’s not what I want.”

Hammon and her Russian teammates were blown out by the USA, 93-58, Monday night in the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament.

Even though she was wearing a Russian uniform, Hammon had her eyes closed and her hand over her heart during “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“I think the pregame was worse than anything,” said Hammon, who scored 10 points in the loss. “Once the ball went up, it was just another basketball game.”

If the United States and Russia meet again in the Olympics, it will be on a much bigger stage with most likely a medal at stake.

“You want to meet the U.S. as late as possible,” Hammon said. “I have been playing against those players for 10 years. I think when the ball goes up it’s just going to be another basketball game. You just go out there and compete and enjoy the moment since it’s not going to happen again.”

When she decided to play for Russia in March, the Olympics seemed far, far away. Now with the games set to begin this week, she’s starting to get really excited about competing.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m really looking forward to it,” Hammon said. “I’m glad I’m not doing as many interviews now. Just being able to be here and play basketball. I think it’s been put off in the back of my mind for so long just concentrating on what we’ve been doing in the WNBA and now is the first time I’ve been able to be over here and enjoy the experience.”