TOKYO – USA women’s basketball team came to Istanbul for the first time in a long time. Olympics followed by some doubts.
It’s not about whether it will fall under the gold medal, which is still in the realm of believing-when-you-see. But the level of stress needed to get there is an open debate for Team USA, a first-time six-time Olympian, relying heavily on a 40-year-old and 39-year-old and he didn’t seem quite ready. A historically dominant run during training camp in Las Vegas.
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Based on Tuesday’s 81-72 win over Nigeria in the Olympic opening, these questions still stand.
While Team USA never seemed in danger of losing, it wasn’t a visually or statistically impressive performance for a team that often plays breathtaking basketball in these environments.
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For various reasons, the bar for this now open team should be significantly lower. While players and coaches repeated it over and over before the Olympics, with a newer squad, this journey would be about taking steps forward every day.
Still, the Americans weren’t a much better team for most of the game, except for a 23-0 run when shots started to drop for the USA in the second quarter. In fact, Nigeria’s full-court pressured defense matched Team USA and contributed significantly to 25 turnovers coughed up by the Americans.
The US took advantage when it was able to produce clear looks near the rim, gaining a 52% gain from inside the bow. The rest of the time, the Americans grappled with miscommunication, loose ball handling, and poor shots from the perimeter, hitting only 20 out of 5 from the 3-point line. On the defensive side, Team USA delivered 19 offensive rebounds.
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The USA had a 20-point lead at the end of the third quarter and held control throughout the second half, but never quite cleared Nigeria. The Americans could have paid the price as Nigeria finished behind 75-67 in the 3rd minute. But a float by Sylvia Fowles from the break and a pair of mid-range jumpers by Chelsea Gray put the threat to an end.
A’Ja Wilson made her Olympic debut with Team USA leading with 19 points, while center Brittney Griner added 13 points.
