Team USA 3x3 women's basketball 'chemistry' concern emerges after 'ugly' Olympic loss

Team USA suffered a shock loss to Germany in the 3x3 women’s basketball Olympics competition on Tuesday, with chemistry a notable issue among the Americans .

In the opening game of pool play at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the United States lost 17-13 to Germany. The team of Dearica Hamby , Rhyne Howard, Cierra Burdick, and Hailey Van Lith - the only college star at the Games - struggled with consistency, while Burdick admitted: “I didn’t think it was going to be that ugly.

“We’re the most inexperienced team here. We got a lot of skill, a lot of talent, but that doesn’t win 3x3 games. That’s a prime time example right there.”

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Despite Team USA opening up a 5-0 lead, Germany never relinquished control of the contest. While it may have been an "ugly" defeat, Atlanta Dream star Rhyne Howard - the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft - is confident the Americans can hit back once they build chemistry with one another.

“I think we got a little bit hectic,” Howard said. “Chemistry definitely came into play.”

In 3x3 basketball, chemistry and fluidity are paramount. The U.S. is looking to repeat as gold medal winners after winning in Tokyo, but the team has only had two weeks of preparation heading into Paris.

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The game was tied 11-11 after a tough finish from Hamby, but Sonja Greinacher nailed a two with 1:52 left and the Germans clung on. Marie Reichert then connected on another two to make it a 16-12 lead.

“At the end of the game, honestly, we were winded,” said Van Lith, who led the U.S. with six points. “We started playing soft. And they played much harder than us.”

Shooting was also an issue; Germany went 4-for-10 while Team USA was 1-for-8. Burdick conceded Team USA was too stagnant on offense. She said: “That’s not going to win 3x3 games. Well-oiled machines are 3x3 teams. That wasn’t a well-oiled machine.”

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Van Lith insisted the transition from traditional basketball to the 3x3 arena is where the team is struggling, adding: “Actions that our bigs and our guards expect help, I feel like that’s when I see it the most.”

In the pool stage, all teams play each other once for six games. The squads are seeded No. 1 to No. 6 with the top two receiving byes, then the semifinals and finals follow the first elimination round.