I have no interest watching WNBA Olympic games, but I saw part of the 3v3 US vs Germany game.

First time I've seen this format and as far as I can see:

- ball only stops if it goes out of bounds. Change of possessions and made baskets require the defense to clear it past the 'three-point" line.

Made baskets are 1 point, or 2 points if from the "three point" line, which is at the same distance as the college and international 3 point line.

Clock shot is 12 seconds.

Constant action, and an interesting variation on street ball.

US team with Van Lith (college), 2 current WNBA players, and 1 former WNBA player lost to Germany

Cameron Brink was supposed to be on the USA team until she got injured early in the WNBA season.

SFCALBear72 said:

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Cameron Brink was supposed to be on the USA team until she got injured early in the WNBA season.

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yes, but with this format I wonder if she can defend the perimeter

all 4 players need to be able to shoot from behind the line in this format

Apparently, the coaches who selected her for this team thought she could do both.

Not a great showing against Germany yesterday; not enough pre-Games practice together?

The 3x3 selection criteria are strange. You have to play in a bunch of 3x3 events, so the U.S. couldn't just take the 13th through 16th players -- or Caitlin Clark.

Hailey Van Lith can't guard anyone but she's the only shooter on the team. Dearica Hamby and Natasha Howard are both quality players but they need shooters around them. And when Van Lith is in, the other team scores pretty much every time.

I don't even know who Cierra Burdick is.

ClayK said:

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The 3x3 selection criteria are strange. You have to play in a bunch of 3x3 events, so the U.S. couldn't just take the 13th through 16th players -- or Caitlin Clark.

Hailey Van Lith can't guard anyone but she's the only shooter on the team. Dearica Hamby and Natasha Howard are both quality players but they need shooters around them. And when Van Lith is in, the other team scores pretty much every time.

I don't even know who Cierra Burdick is.

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Thanks. Hailey is the only player I know on the US team

p.s. mens team lost too (with the former BYU gunner and NBA player)

Getting there: USA beat Spain just now: https://www.usab.com/teams/5x5-womens-olympics/roster

Cierra Burdick's a 30-year-old forward who played for Tennessee, various W teams, and overseas:

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/womens-basketball/2024/07/08/cierra-burdick-olympics-2024-paris-3x3-basketball-lady-vols/74136617007/

They should have just had the Las Vegas Aces players do the 3x3 and then we'd get two gold medals.

HoopDreams said:

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I have no interest watching WNBA Olympic games, but I saw part of the 3v3 US vs Germany game.

First time I've seen this format and as far as I can see:

- ball only stops if it goes out of bounds. Change of possessions and made baskets require the defense to clear it past the 'three-point" line.

Made baskets are 1 point, or 2 points if from the "three point" line, which is at the same distance as the college and international 3 point line.

Clock shot is 12 seconds.

Constant action, and an interesting variation on street ball.

US team with Van Lith (college), 2 current WNBA players, and 1 former WNBA player lost to Germany

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We have by far the best Women Basketball players in the world. There is no way we should lose to Germany. That has to be blamed on the selection or preparation process.

Go Bears!

The U.S. has not taken 3x3 seriously and made sure quality players qualify. Since both the men and women struggled, I'm guessing there will be changes.

Also though, the format is such that a couple lucky shots or a hot (or cold) hand can really affect the outcome. The better team is less likely to win than in 5x5.

HoopDreams said:

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BearBint said:

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USA women win bronze, a good outcome for a team that had so little practice time.

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good for them. I wonder how they would have done with Brink?

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Pretty sure they won the 2023 world championship with her on the team. So prob pretty good.