The 2024 Paris Olympics have seen a rocky start for the United States in 3x3 basketball, with both the men's and women's teams failing to secure a single win in their initial five combined games.
Women's 3x3 Team Struggles
For the women's team, the losses have come at the hands of Azerbaijan, Germany, and Australia. On Thursday, the team fell to Australia in a tightly contested match that ended 17-15. The previous day, they were defeated by Azerbaijan 20-17, and on Tuesday, Germany outplayed them with a 17-13 score. As a result, the team finds itself at the bottom of the standings, a far cry from their gold medal performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Cierra Burdick, one of the key players on the women's team, expressed her disappointment after the game against Germany. “I didn’t think it was going to be that ugly,” Burdick remarked, summing up the sentiment of the squad. Burdick, who now plays in Spain for Valencia, was part of the team that clinched gold at the 2023 FIBA 3x3 World Cup, along with Hailey Van Lith.
The current roster includes veterans like Dearica Hamby, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, and Rhyne Howard, a player for the Atlanta Dream. Hailey Van Lith, still in college, adds youthful energy to the squad's dynamics. Yet, their combined efforts have been insufficient to turn the tide in their favor so far.
Men's 3x3 Team Facing Tough Competition
The men's 3x3 team, making its Olympic debut, has also struggled to find its footing. They were narrowly defeated by Poland with a score of 19-17 and subsequently faced a more substantial loss to Serbia, 22-14. The team features notable talent like Jimmer Fredette, a six-season NBA veteran, alongside Dylan Travis, Canyon Barry, and Kareem Maddox. Despite finishing second to Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and holding a training camp in February, the team has yet to translate preparation into Olympic success.
“It’s a long tournament for us, and we’re excited to get back at it tomorrow,” Fredette stated after Tuesday’s game, conveying a hopeful outlook despite the early setbacks.
3x3 Basketball Format
3x3 basketball, a dynamic and fast-paced variant of the traditional game, uses only half the court and features a compressed 10-minute game format. Scoring is simplified, with baskets counting for one or two points. Players earn their spots on the team through participation in numerous sanctioned 3x3 events throughout the year. With each 3x3 team scheduled for seven games in the pool round, there's still time for the United States to alter their trajectory.
Legacy and Future Prospects
The USA women's dominance in traditional 5x5 basketball adds another layer of intrigue to their 3x3 struggles. Since 1992, the women's 5x5 team has maintained an unblemished Olympic record and is currently pursuing its eighth consecutive gold medal. Prominent players such as A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and the legendary Diana Taurasi, who is competing in her sixth Olympic Games, epitomize American excellence in the sport.
As the 3x3 basketball segment of the Olympics progresses, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. teams can bounce back from their challenging start. The resilience and history of success in American basketball suggest that these athletes will put forth every effort to rewrite their script in the coming games.
In sports, and particularly in the ever-evolving realm of 3x3 basketball, narratives can shift quickly. While the early losses have certainly been a setback, the remaining pool games provide both the men’s and women’s teams with opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities and aspirations for Olympic victory.