PARIS — Reigning champions the United States finally got a win on the board in their fourth game of the women’s 3×3 basketball pool stage at the Paris Olympics on Thursday with a 17-11 victory over Spain.
After suffering a third consecutive defeat in a 17-15 loss to Australia earlier in the day, the U.S. used their size advantage to make scoring drives and impose tight defense on Spain.
“It was a great game for our team. All it takes is one win sometimes to get going,” said Hailey Van Lith. “So hopefully that was the igniter to our fire.”
Three-times Olympian Kevin Durant was at the Australia game, while four-times NBA champion LeBron James and swimmer Katie Ledecky, owner of 13 Olympic medals, were courtside to support their compatriots for the Spain game.
“That is awesome,” Van Lith said of the big name support. “They ask us how our team is doing. They talk to us. They care how we are doing.”
“They have given us a little (advice) about handling the pressure. They have shared some good advice about wearing the USA on your chest.”
By contrast, the U.S men suffered two more defeats, 20-18 to Lithuania and 21-19 to Tokyo champions Latvia, who remain the only unbeaten 3×3 team in Paris at the end of day three.
The U.S. were hampered by the absence of Jimmer…
