Dearica Hamby, USA Basketball ladies’s 3×3 workforce eye an Olympic gold medal right this moment: ‘We wouldn’t change a single factor that occurred’

The U.S. ladies’s 3×3 basketball workforce will compete for an Olympic medal right this moment, after rattling off 5 consecutive victories and qualifying for the semi-finals. It was a sluggish begin in Olympic play — the workforce dropped its first three video games and was a loss away from elimination — however after turning issues round, Crew USA will as soon as once more contend for a medal.

The U.S. and Spain face off within the semifinals at 11:30am ET right this moment, and Germany and Canada face off at 12:30pm ET. The winners of each of these semifinals video games will compete within the gold medal recreation at 4pm ET, whereas the losers will battle for the bronze at 11:30am ET.

The workforce started Olympic play with losses to Germany, Azerbaijan, and Canada, however have been undefeated ever since.

“We wouldn’t change a single factor that occurred,” Hamby mentioned after the workforce certified for the semifinals, per TSN Canada. “We would have liked these three losses to type of wake us up and see that though we could also be extra gifted, we’ve obtained to determine a method to dig deep and pull out wins and compete. This recreation doesn’t permit numerous room for error and we’re discovering chemistry so we’re pleased.”

Via seven video games, Hailey Van Lith has led all U.S. scorers with 4.7 factors per recreation. She’s been notably efficient from past the arc, hitting 7 of 12 makes an attempt by means of the event. Her 58% mark from past the arc is the perfect amongst any participant within the event that has tried greater than three 2-pointers.

Dearica Hamby is averaging 4.1 factors per recreation, and was notably instrumental within the play-in recreation in opposition to China, when she exploded for a game-high 9 factors and 5 rebounds. She additionally had a game-winning layup in opposition to France in a vital pool play recreation, and has led the U.S. in rebounds with 4.4 a recreation.

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Hamby, a ahead for the Los Angeles Sparks, was a late substitute for Cameron Brink, who tore her ACL throughout her rookie season within the WNBA.

“Gold is the usual for USAB and we’re making an attempt to stay as much as that,” Hamby mentioned. “We began 0-3 so we type of took the stress off ourselves and we discovered our enjoyable and are having fun with it and right here we’re.”

Rhyne Howard is averaging 3.9 factors per recreation — she additionally hit a game-winning two-pointer in opposition to Canada, and has discovered her offensive rhythm of late.

“The place we began, it was tough,” Howard mentioned after the play-in win, per TSN. “However all you’ll be able to ask for is progress, getting one p.c higher every day, every recreation and that’s what we’ve achieved and so we’re simply persevering with to look to develop as a workforce and as gamers and simply proceed to be taught this recreation and maintain it going for gold.”

Cierra Burdick, the 30-year-old veteran who performs with Valencia abroad, has been a gradual pressure for the U.S., averaging 2.7 factors and three.9 rebounds per night time.

“USA basketball isn’t used to dropping,” Burdick mentioned. “So, if you lose three in a row, it’s like everyone is type of shocked and everyone’s rooting in opposition to us.”

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Two wins right this moment would mark two consecutive gold medals for USA Basketball 3×3 on the Olympics — in Tokyo, it was Kelsey Plum, Jackie Younger, Stefanie Dolson, and Allisha Grey who introduced house the {hardware} for the U.S.

This time, it’ll be a very completely different solid — one which was broadly doubted after the tough begin and consists of two non-WNBA gamers, Van Lith and Burdick. However, as unbelievable as a gold medal appeared only a few days in the past, they’re now merely two wins away.