When the mud settled in 3×3 play on the ladies’s aspect, a brand new gold medal winner was topped, with Germany defeating Spain 17-16. Workforce USA failed to finish their gold medal protection, however got here up victorious within the bronze medal match, beating Canada 16-13.
A pair of down-to-the-wire semifinals
Monday started with the semifinal matches. First, it was Spain vs. the US, adopted by Germany vs. Canada. Spain pulled off the upset, beating Workforce USA 18-16 to advance to the gold medal sport.
The Spaniards emerged victorious not solely due to superior late-game execution, but additionally as a result of the Individuals missed free throws and dedicated too many fouls, which put Spain within the bonus early.
The sport was even at 16 on the finish of regulation, leading to time beyond regulation play. With a 2-point shot robotically securing the outcome, Spain seemed for the win. Nonetheless, Vega Gimeno missed the shot from deep. She acquired her personal rebound, and Sandra Ygueravide scored a 1-point basket to offer Spain the lead. With Workforce USA having possession, in addition they seemed for a game-clinching basket. Rhyne Howard aimed to finish issues together with her 2-point try however missed vast. Ygueravide then drove baseline, and Dearica Hamby was referred to as for the foul. The foul appeared comfortable, however Ygueravide hit her free throw, ending the sport and making certain a brand new gold medal winner could be named on the Paris Olympics.
Germany-Canada was equally as aggressive, with Germany profitable 16-15. Sonja Greinacher received the sport on a buzzer-beating drive within the sport’s closing seconds. Greinacher gave an impressed efficiency for Germany, scoring 11 factors on 9-for-10 capturing en path to the win. Canada’s balanced assault noticed three gamers rating 4 factors, however it wasn’t sufficient down the stretch to get the outcome.
Workforce USA takes the bronze
With a bronze medal on the road, Workforce USA and Canada gave us one other entertaining sport. The Individuals got here out on high 16-13, with Hailey Van Lith doing numerous the heavy lifting as she scored a team-high six factors.
Workforce USA received regardless of failing to transform a single 2-point shot and shedding the rebounding battle, 15-13. Fouls, nevertheless, went Workforce USA’s approach as they secured the outcome due to free throws made by Hamby and Cierra Burdick throughout the sport’s last possessions. Workforce USA received gold on the Tokyo Olympics and now has a bronze medal so as to add to their trophy room.
Germany is golden
Within the gold medal match, Germany beat Spain 17-16, with Greinacher scoring the important thing factors that gave the Germans the benefit. Spain nonetheless had one last possession to try to even the rating or take the lead, however after Gracia Alonso missed a shot to tie it, time expired and the outcome went Germany’s approach.
Greinacher was the star for Germany all through the sport. She scored 5 factors, together with two huge 2-point photographs to assist Deutschland style gold in 3×3 play. Whereas Spain is undoubtedly dissatisfied on this outcome, a silver medal and defeating the US looks like a reasonably good comfort prize.
Key takeaways
On the 2020 Olympics, the US received gold, Russia acquired silver and China earned bronze. Three years later, Germany claims the gold, Spain has the silver and USA holds the bronze. Out of six medals in two Olympics, 5 totally different nations have received. That demonstrates the parity and problem of dominating this comparatively new sport at this aggressive stage.
Workforce USA should retool to return to the highest for the 2028 Video games in Los Angeles. Germany will look to repeat, whereas Spain, Canada and different nations will undoubtedly emerge as contenders subsequent cycle. These are all issues to debate within the weeks, months and years forward. For now, Germany can maintain their head up excessive and declare themselves as queens of 3×3.
