Staff USA’s gold medal protection in girls’s 3×3 basketball is off to a tough begin.
By means of two pool play video games, the People are winless, falling first to Germany after which to Azerbaijan. With solely 30 complete factors scored, Staff USA sits in eighth—and final—place. Development to the event requires a top-six end, that means the American quartet of Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, Cierra Burdick and Hailey Van Lith have some work to do.
Thankfully, Thursday presents the People with a chance to start to reverse their destiny, as they, like all groups, will play two video games. Seize two wins and, out of the blue, issues gained’t appear so dire for the defending gold medalists. However, that’s simpler mentioned than completed. Chemistry and cohesion—manifested in fast passes, well timed cuts and related protection—drive success in 3×3 basketball. Staff USA has but to ascertain such traits, because the foursome has by no means performed collectively in a significant event.
Though, as Tiffany Hayes demonstrated for Azerbaijan on Wednesday, elite particular person ability nonetheless can supersede all. In opposition to Staff USA, Hayes utilized all her immense athletic presents to steer Staff Azerbaijan to the 20-17 victory. Hayes completed with 11 factors, dipping deep into her bag of off-the-dribble scoring tips. She additionally grabbed seven boards and swatted three photographs. The People have been led by Hamby’s seven factors and 5 rebounds, with Van Lith including 5 factors and Burdick chipping in 4 factors and 4 boards. Howard, who missed a big chunk of the WNBA season with an ankle damage, has struggled to seek out her stride within the 3×3 format, managing only a level on Wednesday.
America meets Australia (7 a.m. ET) and Spain (3:30 p.m. ET) on Thursday. Whereas Australia fell to Canada of their first match, they defeated Germany on Wednesday. Spain is undefeated in pool play, with wins over Azerbaijan and France. Hayes and the Azerbaijanis meet France (6:30 a.m. ET) and Germany (12:30 p.m. ET). Total, Hayes leads the competitors in scoring (21 factors), rebounding (14) and blocked photographs (three).
Canada is cruising
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Staff USA’s northern neighbors, in distinction, are thriving on the courtroom in Paris. The Canadians are on the prime of the desk, scoring 43 factors throughout two victories. The Plouffe sisters—Michelle and Katherine—each have scored 15 factors complete to steer Canada to comfy wins over Australia and China. On Thursday, they’ll goal to protect their perfection with video games in opposition to Germany (3:30 a.m. ET) and France (4 p.m. ET).
China seems to be to solidify spot in standings
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Exterior of Hayes and the Plouffe sisters, China’s Mingling Chen has been the competitors’s most spectacular participant. The 6-foot-4 24-year-old has a competition-leading seven drives, permitting her to attain effectively on 1-point photographs (71 p.c capturing). After an inspiring extra time win over France of their opener, China was resoundingly defeated by the aforementioned Canadians. That decisive loss has the 1-1 Chinese language in sixth place with 32 factors scored, simply above the winless French and People. China should dangle onto, or enhance upon, that spot within the standings to earn a berth within the event. Prevailing in what probably are to be two powerful matches in opposition to Australia (3 a.m. ET) and Spain (12 p.m. ET) on Thursday would put them in a a lot stronger place.
Sport info
China vs. Australia
When: Thursday, August 1 at 3 a.m. ET
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: Peacock
Germany vs. Canada
When: Thursday, August 1 at 3:30 a.m. ET
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: Peacock
Azerbaijan vs. France
When: Thursday, August 1 at 6:30 a.m. ET
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: Peacock
United States vs. Australia
When: Thursday, August 1 at 7 a.m. ET
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: NBC
China vs. Spain
When: Thursday, August 1 at 12 p.m. ET
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: Peacock
Germany vs. Azerbaijan
When: Thursday, August 1 at 12:30 p.m. ET
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: Peacock
Spain vs. United States
When: Thursday, August 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: E! Community
Canada vs. France
When: Thursday, August 1 at
The place: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France
watch: Peacock
