The United States' bid for dominance in 3x3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics has hit an early and unexpected snag. Both the men's and women's teams find themselves winless in their first five combined games, a surprising outcome for squads that have shown significant promise and potential.
Challenges for the Women's Team
For the women's 3x3 team, losses to Azerbaijan, Germany, and Australia have put them at the bottom of the standings. A narrow 17-15 defeat to Australia on Thursday followed a tough 20-17 loss to Azerbaijan on Wednesday and a 17-13 setback against Germany on Tuesday. Despite having key players like Cierra Burdick, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, and Hailey Van Lith, the team has struggled to find its rhythm.
Hamby, who plays for the Los Angeles Sparks, and Howard, representing the Atlanta Dream, bring significant professional experience. Van Lith continues to make her mark as a college star, while Burdick, now playing in Spain for Valencia, tries to leverage her FIBA 3x3 World Cup gold medal experience from 2023. “I didn’t think it was going to be that ugly,” Burdick said after the game against Germany, reflecting the team's frustration.
Adding to the roster’s challenges, the team will miss Cameroon Brink, a promising rookie for the Los Angeles Sparks, who is sidelined due to a torn ACL. Despite the setbacks, the women's team remains hopeful, with four games left in the pool round to turn things around.
Men's Team Stumbles in Olympic Debut
The men's 3x3 team, featuring former NBA player Jimmer Fredette, Dylan Travis, Canyon Barry, and Kareem Maddox, has also faced its struggles. In their first-ever Olympic appearance, they fell 19-17 to Poland and suffered a 22-14 loss to Serbia. This team, which finished second to Serbia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, is navigating the growing pains of adapting to the Olympic stage.
Fredette, known for his sharpshooting, remains optimistic. “It’s a long tournament for us, and we’re excited to get back at it tomorrow,” he remarked after Tuesday's game. The team had a dedicated training camp in February to prepare, yet the challenges of the high-stakes environment are palpable.
The Road Ahead
With three more games remaining in the pool round for each team, the focus will be on improving and adjusting strategies. The 3x3 format—a 10-minute game on a half-court where baskets count for one or two points—demands quick thinking and fast-paced play, elements the U.S. teams must harness to secure victories.
While 3x3 basketball is a relatively new Olympic discipline, making its debut in Tokyo 2020 where the U.S. women's team clinched gold, it continues to grow in prestige and competitiveness. The men's team, in particular, is navigating the nuances of this high-intensity game as they aim to emulate the long-standing success of the U.S. women’s 5x5 team, which has an undefeated Olympic record since 1992 and is in pursuit of its eighth consecutive gold medal.
The iconic players of the 5x5 women’s team, including A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Diana Taurasi, who is making her sixth Olympic appearance, serve as an inspiration to their 3x3 counterparts. The legacy of excellence they uphold highlights the high expectations placed on every U.S. basketball team, regardless of format.
Participation in more sanctioned 3x3 events throughout the year has been key for players to earn their spots on these Olympic teams, showcasing a commitment to mastering this dynamic version of basketball. As both the men's and women's teams continue their Olympic journeys, they'll need to draw deeply from their pool of talent and experience.
In the coming days, the remaining games will be critical for both U.S. teams to improve their standing and guard against early elimination. With the resilience deeply embedded in the DNA of U.S. basketball, there's hope that they will rise to the challenge and deliver memorable performances on the grand stage in Paris.