The United States saw both the men’s and women’s 3×3 basketball teams lose their opening games of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. This doesn’t mean the journey to the podium is over, but it is important to point out that U.S. fans should perhaps manage their expectations differently when it comes to 3×3 teams compared to the 5×5 squads — at least for now.
The women’s 3×3 team lost 17-13 to Germany, while the men fell 22-14 to Serbia.
Yes, the U.S. is considered to be the most dominant country in the world when it comes to talent in the NBA and WNBA. But the Olympics are totally different. The 3×3 game is very fast paced, uses only half the court, lasts a maximum of 10 minutes and only includes baskets that count for one or two points (no 3-pointers).
In addition, there are stipulations to who can play for each 3×3 roster. Players accrue points by playing in more sanctioned 3×3 events over the course of the year, and those who have not participated are not allowed to be placed on the team, unlike with 5×5 rosters, where first-timers are eligible for any competition. Those guidelines certainly led to tougher situations for USA Basketball in building these rosters, but longer-range planning and better selling the 3×3 game to top stars could have remedied them. Instead, we’re left with the best basketball country in the world losing in both men’s and women’s 3×3 games in the same Olympics day.
Here is a closer look at what is going on with each Team USA 3×3 roster:
Women’s 3×3 team
After their loss to Germany, Cierra Burdick admitted she “didn’t think it was going to be that ugly.”
The Americans had an early 5-0 lead, but the game quickly got away from them. Team chemistry could be a factor, which should be expected as they have only played together for about two weeks.
Things are much different for the women’s 5×5 team, which has not lost a single game in the Olympics since 1992 and is currently chasing its eighth consecutive gold medal with a star-studded roster filled with experience. That group includes A’ja Wilson, Breanna…
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