It’s been removed from the beginning they had been hoping for, however USA Basketball ladies’s 3×3 staff is just not out simply but.
In a shock to many, the defending gold medal champions dropped their first three Olympic pool play video games, and risked elimination with a loss in opposition to Spain on Thursday afternoon. However, Hailey Van Lith, Cierra Burdick, Rhyne Howard, and Dearica Hamby pulled out their first victory of the Paris Olympics, a 17-11 win over Spain.
The staff’s report improves to 1-3 — nonetheless not an amazing place to be, and nonetheless final within the total stnadings — however now with a transparent pathway going ahead.
“We’re gonna must play powerful and get on a roll right here, however we nonetheless have an opportunity,” Van Lith mentioned, per the Dallas Morning Information.
The U.S. ladies’s 3×3 staff received gold on the final Olympics, however that was a wholly completely different roster solely made up of WNBA gamers: Jackie Younger and Kelsey Plum (each of whom are on the 5×5 Olympic basketball staff), Allisha Grey (a WNBA all-star) and Stefanie Dolson (who in all probability ought to’ve been an all-star this season).
This roster hasn’t had almost as a lot time to gel, and that’s proven by means of 4 contests. Burdick and Van Lith had been each members of the 3×3 staff that received the gold medal within the 2023 World Championships, however they had been led by Cameron Brink, who was changed by Hamby because of an ACL tear suffered final month. Hamby and Howard have by no means performed with the 2 extra skilled members of the roster.
The group has been vocal about their restricted follow time and expertise collectively, however have maintained all through the week that they nonetheless really feel assured they’ve a shot.
After the ladies fell to 0-3 after the loss to Australia, Rhyne Howard mentioned staying united was key, per NPR.
“We’ve to remain collectively. We all know what is just not clicking for us, and we have now to be higher at that,” she mentioned. “We’re simply making an attempt to take what we will study from it and be higher subsequent recreation.”
Towards Spain, Hailey Van Lith emerged from a stoop with a view to rating 5 factors on 3-5 taking pictures. Howard — essentially the most embellished professional on the roster — additionally added 5 factors, Cierra Burdick 4 factors, and Dearica Hamby 3 factors.
Right here’s the place issues at present stand
The highest two groups within the standings mechanically qualify for the semi-finals, and the following 4 qualify for a play-in spherical to duke it out for the opposite two semi-finals berths. So, with a view to actually have a probability at a medal, the USA must discover a approach into the highest six Olympic groups. Proper now, they’re final within the standings, and they also’ll must be excellent the remainder of the best way.
- Australia: 3-1 (Australia beat China 21-15 right now, after which beat the U.S. 17-15)
- Germany: 3-1 (Germany beat Canada 19-15 right now, after which beat Azerbaijan 12-8)
- Canada: 2-1 (Canada fell to Germany, however then beat France 13-9)
- China: 2-2 (China beat
- Spain: 2-2 (Spain misplaced each video games right now — to China and the US)
- France: 1-2 (France beat Azerbaijan 15-10, after which fell to Canada)
- Azerbaijan: 1-3 (Azerbaijan misplaced to each France and Germany)
- United States: 1-3 (the U.S. fell to Australia 17-15, after which beat Spain 17-11)
What’s subsequent for USA Basketball’s ladies’s 3×3 staff
Tomorrow is a essential day for the U.S. 3×3 staff — they’ll face France within the morning (7am ET) and Canada within the afternoon (12pm ET). Two wins would in all probability bump the U.S. out of the underside two and provides them an opportunity to compete within the play-in, however something in need of that can eradicate the defending champions.
Then, on Saturday, they’ll face China at 1:05pm ET within the final pool play recreation of the Olympics.
To be able to advance to the play-in — a qualifying spherical forward of the semi-finals — the U.S. ladies will doubtless must win all three video games, a tall job particularly contemplating the rocky begin.
