Team USA’s gold medal defense in women’s 3×3 basketball is off to a rough start.
Through two pool play games, the Americans are winless, falling first to Germany and then to Azerbaijan. With only 30 total points scored, Team USA sits in eighth—and last—place. Advancement to the tournament requires a top-six finish, meaning the American quartet of Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, Cierra Burdick and Hailey Van Lith have some work to do.
Fortunately, Thursday presents the Americans with an opportunity to begin to reverse their fate, as they, like all teams, will play two games. Grab two wins and, suddenly, things won’t seem so dire for the defending gold medalists. But, that’s easier said than done. Chemistry and cohesion—manifested in quick passes, timely cuts and connected defense—drive success in 3×3 basketball. Team USA has yet to establish such characteristics, as the foursome has never played together in a major tournament.
Although, as Tiffany Hayes demonstrated for Azerbaijan on Wednesday, elite individual skill still can supersede all. Against Team USA, Hayes applied all her immense athletic gifts to lead Team Azerbaijan to the 20-17 victory. Hayes finished with 11 points, dipping deep into her bag of off-the-dribble scoring tricks. She also grabbed…
