Team USA isn’t the Team USA we expect yet, and there’s plenty to work on and build on after the opener.
Team USA women’s basketball’s first Olympic group stage game felt eerily similar to their subpar exhibition games. The Americans beat Nigeria,81-72, but the margin was way too close for comfort. Turnovers and a lack of chemistry were noticeable for the full 40 minutes save for an explosive 23-0 second-quarter stretch, and the game never felt completely theirs. That’s despite Nigeria missing three stars it’d hoped to have in Nneka Ogwumike, Chiney Ogwumike, and Elizabeth Williams. It’s way too soon to panic, and Team USA is still the favorite by far to win the gold medal. But let’s talk about what we learned from their first Olympic game. 1. A’ja Wilson is unstoppable in the post This is an important one. While most of the first-time American Olympians played a smaller role against Nigeria, Wilson was the star. Her 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting were a game-high and her six offensive rebounds (13 total boards) helped bail out some ugly halfcourt possessions. The 24-year-old reigning WNBA MVP was ready for the moment which is a great sign for Team USA’s current run and future appearances.
