After Defeat Against Azerbaijan, Are Hailey Van Lith and Team USA Out of 3×3 Olympic Basketball?

“Gold is the standard and it is a little embarrassing.” That’s Dearica Hamby summing up the reigning champions’ campaign in the women’s 3×3 basketball pool stage so far. Now the US Women’s team is staring down the barrel following the 20-17 loss to Azerbaijan. What does the second consecutive loss mean for the gold medal aspirations of Team USA? Do Hailey Van Lith and Co. still have a path toward another podium finish at the event?

The 2023 world champion Hailey Van Lith missed a two-pointer in the closing moments of the game to hand the inexperienced Azerbaijan a historic moment. Having said that, the passionate followers of the team can breathe a sigh of relief as the campaign is still alive. However, it will require Team USA to play out of their skin to keep the hopes and aspirations of the millions watching at home intact.

Currently occupying the bottom position in the pool standings, the team still has 5 games left. In order to make it to the semi-finals, the squad will need to finish in the top 2 after the conclusion of the group stage games. If somehow, that is not the case, a last-four playoff will commence between the 4 teams to determine who will qualify for the remaining 2 positions. The nature of this round will be of a single-game elimination form. With Germany and Azerbaijan done, which teams are now standing in the way of Team USA and their Olympic dream?

What lies ahead for Hailey Van Lith and Co.?

The next game scheduled for Hailey Van Lith and the rest is on August 1st against Australia at the Place de la Concorde. The Opals are fresh off a 21-19 victory over Team USA’s opening game opponents Germany. Then, the unbeaten Spain awaits them on the same day.

Hosts France, who recently suffered an error-filled 17-12 loss to the Spanish, will be Team USA’s next challenge on August 2nd. Just 5 hours later, neighbors Canada will be their second Pool play fixture of the day. If things go down the wire, the Olympic champions will lock horns against China the next day for their decider.

The current team carries the WNBA experience of only two players. Dearica Hamby from the Los Angeles Sparks and Rhyne Howard from the Atlanta Dream will have to use their pro aptitude in the upcoming games. Meanwhile, Hailey Van Lith who will represent TCU at the collegiate level, and Cierra Burdick who plays professional basketball for Valencia in Spain are the other 2 inclusions. Both of them were a part of the gold medal-winning squad at the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.

There is no denying that tricky times lie ahead of the 3×3 Team USA. Their approach in the next few games will determine their fate for the remainder of the campaign. While many are not backing the current roster to pull off something special, their opponents will not make the mistake of underestimating them. It will be an interesting few days to witness what the future holds for the team.

Stay tuned for more such updates. And, join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.