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Alexa PhilippouESPN
SYDNEY — USA Basketball entered a new chapter after Sue Bird, with a great deal of uncertainty surrounding it. Diana Taurasi times.
But in front of 15,895 fans at the Sydney Superdome, most of whom enthusiastically supported Team China, a new-looking Team USA came ahead of them by winning their fourth consecutive title. We have succeeded in strengthening the legacy built by our people. He beat China 83-61 in the final to take cup gold and 11th overall.
Only five athletes from the team that has won seven consecutive Olympic titles in Tokyo wore the red, white and blue outfit in Sydney. No bird, Taurasi, Sylvia Fowles, Tina Charles Also Britney GrinerTeams were defined by their experience and aging statesmanship over the years and tended to feature mostly players from a handful of elite schools, but instead the teams that gained a say were 10 out of 10. We only featured one 30-year-old representative from a college program. And six newcomers to the senior national team at this level of competition. Even four-time WNBA champion head coach Sheryl Reeve Minnesota Lynx — Newly assumed the helm of one of the greatest dynasties in sports.
“Probably all over the world they saw it and said, ‘Now is the time to get America,'” Reeve said. The league, WNBA, and US professional basketball players are really good, and it shows the depth of talent we have.”
In fact, the United States went undefeated in group matches, winning by an average of 40.75 points and only one match ending with less than 15 points. According to FIBA, their 22-point win over China was also their biggest margin of victory in the World Cup final.
Since 1994, the United States has lost only one game in a major international competition (World Cup or Olympic play). It was the 2006 World Cup semi-final against Russia, and since then she has won 30 straight tournaments.
“I know everybody wants to beat us. Everybody wants what we have. Be it a gold medal or a win or whatever, and with that comes pressure.” said Stewart. “We have a great player to handle that pressure and perform on the best stage possible.
“Just accept it. [pressure]All the legends in front of us instead of fighting, we know what they did, how they won, things like that, yes each team is different and we are history You must leave an imprint on the
With this win, the USA also qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Last year’s Tokyo Olympics seemed to contain heavy elements as it was held amid the COVID-19 bubble and the United States struggled to gain a foothold throughout the event, but the 2022 World Cup experience was defined by a spirit of fun and lightness. With her hair drenched in champagne at the post-match press conference, Reeve nabbed Wilson and finally figured out where she should be in the gold medal game, giving up 18 points in the first half defense. rice field. With her bottle of champagne in hand, Wilson spent most of her presser for her second championship in her two weeks, showing off her Tissot watch, which she won as the tournament’s MVP.
“By my watch, we’re gold medalists,” Wilson said. from: “[In the quarterfinals] Serbia came out and punched us in the mouth. And I was like, “It’s not our watch.”
In other words, children are fine in America.
“What I wanted them to do was make sure this tournament was fun,” said Reeve. “I think when you feel the pressure or the pressure to win, it can take the fun out of it. I know I enjoyed it, and I hope they did too.”
The players agreed with this opinion. And what scares the competition the most? New-looking young America isn’t going anywhere, and the fun isn’t going to stop anytime soon.
“I don’t think it’s on the verge of stopping, that’s for sure,” Stewart said. “We are definitely getting older. [compared to Tokyo]However, there are many people who have just joined the league and are just entering their prime. It’s hard to stop. ”
Silver medalists China reached the final of the World Cup for the first time since 1994. It was also the last time he won a medal at a major international competition. Hosts Australia won her 95-65 win over Canada and former WNBA MVP and champion Lauren her Jackson, who has not retired from the sport and is playing at age 41, is in her last game for the Opals. She dropped 30 points to win the bronze medal.
Wilson’s World Cup MVP honors brought him yet another honor after winning his second WNBA MVP award, his first Defensive Player of the Year, and his first WNBA title of the season. She made the All-Star Five alongside Bridget Carlton (Canada), Han Shu (China), Stewart (USA) and Steph Talbot (Australia).
“I’ve been here before. Where A’ja is, there’s been players who’ve won WNBA championships and won gold medals coming here.” They make it look easy, it’s not, they’re insanely talented, and Aja Wilson is insanely talented.”
“This is why you sacrifice,” added Wilson. “My teammates hold me accountable. They put me in the best possible situation so I didn’t feel really tired. This is why we are alive. This is honestly It’s my job and I love my job I love my job and now I can go to bed I’m so excited the bed literally calls my name I’m here.”
Team USA, who just won the WNBA title less than two weeks ago, Las Vegas Aces trio chelsea gray (2022 Final MVP), Aja Wilson (2022 WNBA MVP) and Kelsey Plum (first-time All-Star and all-WNBA selection) was added to the trophy case following a whirlwind stretch of contact with the U.S. team after they began preparing for the event – making their third appearance, in fact. Not a tournament game.
After America’s somewhat slow start in the championship game, the trio were sensational in the final, scoring 46 of America’s 83 points. Wilson scored his 16 points in his 16:35 of the first half and carried Team USA. After a 5-point game at the end of the first quarter and a 10-point game in the second half, America took a 25-14 lead in the third quarter and had a comfortable lead heading into the fourth quarter. Secured.
Jewel Lloyd It was another Team USA member who finished with 11 points.
not in china Li Meng, their top scorer from the team’s first meeting of the tournament in group play, a 14-point US win for the sick.America’s caria copper Injured his back in the quarterfinals and missed two games in a row. Alyssa Thomas went down with her upper body injury in the second half, but she was back in the game after being briefly cared for in the locker room. Wu Tong Tong He also had to be carried off the floor in the fourth quarter after suffering an apparent knee injury.
WNBA MVP in first tournament as team leader Breanna Stewart And Wilson successfully carried the cloak left by Bard, Taurasi, and Foules. However, newcomers soon felt the effects as well. Alyssa Thomasteammates regarded her as their “glue” and “MVP of this tournament” before the championship.
“I don’t see it as a burden. I see it as just a stepping stone,” Wilson said. “We sow seeds for the next generation.
“It’s crazy because Stewie and I were taking selfies.” So it’s been an unbelievable journey to continue building that foundation now that we’ve put it down in us it’s time for us to step up and get into that situation is.”
However, the newcomer made an immediate impact as well, with teammates deeming her the “glue” and “MVP of this tournament” before the championship, and no player quite as good as Thomas.
First deployed in February’s World Cup qualifying tournament, Reeve’s group was able to embrace a defensive identity that’s not typical for the US national team in recent years, with Thomas as one of the vocal points. Reeve noted that Team USA had 42 deflections against China in their gold medal matchup. Even more impressive is the late arrival of eight Team USA players to Sydney, including five of her who played in the WNBA Finals and arrived the week of the tournament.
“What gives me the most satisfaction is the trust and buy-in,” Reeve said. “Back in Las Vegas, the group we had, back in February, they helped us build this identity. It came along and got us over the hump so we could keep the legacy going.”
