The U.S. women’s basketball team, the reigning champions in 3×3 basketball, stumbled in their opening pool play game at the Paris Games, falling to Germany 17-13.
Despite leading the U.S. with six points, Hailey Van Lith struggled during and after the game, attributing her discomfort to a cold exacerbated by the rainy conditions during the opening ceremony. “I think I actually have a cold,” Van Lith explained. “I think it was from the rain, but I’ll be fine. I played through it in the NCAA Tournament, so there’s nothing that’s going to take me out.”
Germany’s Sonja Greinacher led her team with five points and six rebounds, while Marie Reichert also contributed five points. Elisa Mevius played a crucial role in Germany’s comeback, scoring three of their six unanswered points after the U.S. initially surged to a 5-0 lead.
Van Lith’s layup and a basket from Dearica Hamby briefly narrowed the gap to 11-10, but Germany pulled away in the final moments with Greinacher and Reichert each adding key points to secure the win.
“It obviously gives us a lot of self-confidence going forward,” Greinacher noted after the game.
Cierra Burdick, disappointed with the team’s performance, acknowledged the challenges of integrating new players, like Hamby, who replaced Cameron Brink due to a knee injury. “I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty,” Burdick said. “I didn’t think it was going to be that ugly.”
The U.S. team will need to regroup and refine their strategy as they continue their quest for gold in the 3×3 basketball tournament.
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