VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve has experience with dynasties, having led the Minnesota Lynx to four WNBA championships from 2011 to 2017. She also served as an assistant coach during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where four of her players played key roles in winning the gold medal.
Now in France, Reeve finds herself in a familiar situation as she looks down her bench and sees four starters from the Las Vegas Aces, the two-time defending WNBA champions.
In Sunday night’s game against Germany, the core of the dominant Aces team helped Team USA secure an 87-68 victory in their final group stage game.
With players like A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young on the floor, Team USA went on impressive runs in both the second and third quarters to pull away from Germany.
Young had a standout performance, leading the team with 19 points and showcasing her sharpshooting skills with 5-of-8 shooting from behind the arc. This was crucial for Team USA, which had struggled with three-point shooting in previous games.
Geno Auriemma, who coached the 2016 Olympic team featuring Lynx players, recognizes the chemistry and shared experience of the Aces players on Team USA.
As the group stage comes to an end, Team USA is left with the question of whether they will secure the top seed. Points differential will determine the final standings, with France currently holding a slim lead over Team USA. The outcome of the France-Australia game will play a crucial role in determining the standings.
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(Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images)