The US women outperformed France in their first 3×3 Olympic basketball appearance, winning 2-0 that day

[ad_1]

5:49 PM ET

Michel VoepelESPN.com

Michel Voebel covers WNBA, women’s basketball and other college sports for espnW. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996.

US women have dominated Olympic 5×5 basketball as the past six gold medal winners. The Americans got off to a great start in a debut sport, too: 3×3 basketball.

The United States won both of their 3×3 matches on Saturday, including a 17-10 win over seeded France in the presence of first lady Jill Biden. Then the Americans beat Mongolia 21-9.

“What an honor and what a chance to play against the First Lady,” said Kelsey Bloom, US goalkeeper. “Once we got out, we saw her in the stands. She waved, and she brought all her energy, so we’re grateful for that.

“I think there was a lot of reinforcements; it was kind of good to let the tensions go. The tournament will get better. You’re in your first match on a world stage, but once we started and the shots started falling, we were only able to be ourselves.”

Just a year ago, Bloom was rehabilitating an Achilles tendon injury that forced her to miss the 2020 WNBA season. She returned to the WNBA this season and earned six points each against France and Mongolia on Saturday.

Her teammate Jackie Young, the Las Vegas guard, was a late addition to the four-member US team because Seattle Storm’s Katie Lou Samuelson had to withdraw from the Olympics after going through COVID-19 protocol before making the trip to Tokyo.

It was a whirlwind for Young, who, like Bloom, was a former WNBA No. 1 draft pick. Saturday was Young’s first 3×3 international since she competed in the 2019 tournament. She had one point each against France and Mongolia.

“I was definitely nervous at first; I haven’t played in a while,” Young said. “I’ve done some training camps. It’s definitely an adjustment. The physique is a little different, so it’s getting used to it. But I feel good after the first game.”

Chicago Sky center Stephanie Dolson scored seven points against France and five against Mongolia. The other player on the team, Dallas Wings guard Alisha Gray, scored three points against France and nine against Mongolia.

The 3×3 is played on a half court with one bow, one basket, and a 12-second shot clock. Free throws and baskets inside the arc equal one point, and baskets from behind the arc equal two points. The first team to reach 21, or any team that advances at the end of the 10-minute period, wins the match. If the score is tied, the first team to get two points in overtime is the winner.

Two years ago, American women had concerns about making the Olympics in the 3×3 due to the dearth of points the country collected in FIBA-sponsored events. But with stronger participation and emphasis on those events by professional players, the United States improved their standing and were undefeated in their Olympic qualifiers in May to reach Tokyo.

The US has two more games on Sunday: against Romania at 4:30 a.m. ET and against the Russian Olympic Committee at 8:25 a.m.

.

[ad_2]