July 21, 2024
‘As bad as it was, it was good for us’: How Team USA will adjust after another loss to WNBA All-Stars
For the second time in a row, players cut from Team USA roster handed the Olympians a loss
PHOENIX — Team USA’s toughest challenge for its run to and through the Paris Olympics just might be behind it.
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The WNBA All-Stars bested the national team, 117-109 on Saturday, and at one point owned a 20-point lead. And now, for the second time in a row, the WNBA-versus-USA format gave players cut from the final USA roster a chance to show out against the team that’s playing without them.
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Just like she did in 2021, when Team WNBA won 93-85, Arike Ogunbowale won the game’s MVP honor this year by scoring an All-Star Game-record 34 points (all in the second half). Nneka Ogwumike scored 14 points. Angel Reese had a double-double, tallying 12 points and 11 rebounds. And even on an off-shooting night, Caitlin Clark had a game-high 10 assists. (Of note: they all have experience with USA Basketball).
The one saving grace for the US team might be that past experience from three years ago. By the time the Americans started playing Olympic games in Tokyo, they rolled to the gold medal. But clearly, this was not a game Team USA was content with losing.
“We have work to do and we know that,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve said. “Sometimes it’s good to have adversity. I don’t think we need a game like this to get our attention, but we just have work to do. I think we have really good basketball players that know how to play and can do things unscripted.”
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Reeve mentioned that versatility was emphasized in constructing the final roster. She highlighted her team’s ability to play different lineups and substitute its largest front court players, such as Brittney Griner, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. But after a poor defensive night, Reeve and the players recognize the needs to be more aggressive on transition and the perimeter.
“We were not good at what we were trying to get done defensively,” said Stewart, who finished with a Team USA-high 31 points and 10 rebounds. “But we also know there are really good offensive players on the other side. We want to use tonight’s experience to put us in a position to be successful. Players are still in their muscle memories from their individual teams.
“What we need to do better is just to continue to quickly be on the same page defensively. Understanding we just gave up 117 points is kind of crazy, we need to make sure our weak side is there and our help side is there. We don’t want to peak too soon. We know we can improve on a lot.”
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Transitioning from one team to another in the middle of the season is always a challenge. Players must block out the mindset of what they do each day with their pro teams and develop one where they will have a different role.
“We are fresh coming off our respective teams,” Wilson noted, “but when you come to USAB, we flip that switch and have to adjust into different schemes and trust the process.”
In addition to Stewart, Wilson added 22 points and six rebounds, while Diana Taurasi finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists and Griner added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Team USA started Stewart, Wilson, Taurasi, Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd on Saturday.
Following the game, Team USA boarded a charter flight to London, where it will play an exhibition game against Germany on Wednesday. Its first game at the Olympics will be July 29 versus Japan.
“We are going to be more locked in, I know it,” Griner said. “We all know what we do with our other teams. And sometimes, we’ll pass up something to try to get something better … But it’s not a complete wash because we’re going to get everybody’s best shot in Paris.
“As bad as it was, it was good for us.”
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Alex Simon contributed to this report.
Written by Scott Mammoser
Scott Mammoser has covered major international events for FIBA, World Athletics and the International Skating Union. He has been to six Olympics and traveled to more than 90 countries.
