In today’s game, we witnessed an unexpected turn of events and poor coaching decisions from Cheryl Reeve. The USA showed dominance in the first quarter, but as time passed, Team Japan began to dominate, even though they were initially behind in points. Diana Taurasi and A’ja Wilson started off strong, but as the game progressed, Team Japan became more precise, consistently hitting three-pointers throughout the night. Cheryl Reeve appeared very worried and unmotivated as the game went on, making us all wonder what would have happened if Caitlyn Clark were there.
Overall, Team USA did not appear to be in their optimal form; at times, they seemed disorganized, which is primarily Cheryl Reeve’s responsibility to address. En route to what many expected to be their seventh straight gold, Japan’s Yamamoto was slippery with the ball, continuously challenging Team USA’s defense. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Team USA. There were some questionable decisions from head coach Cheryl Reeve, which appeared to impact the team’s rhythm and execution, leading to concerns about their ability to secure the gold.
The first quarter ended with Team USA leading 22-5, thanks in large part to a stellar performance from A’ja Wilson, who racked up 10 points. Her aggressive play and sharp shooting set the tone for what many expected to be an easy match for the Americans. Wilson was unstoppable, driving to the basket with confidence and hitting shots from all over the court. On the other side, Japan was struggling to keep up, but they refused to back down. Their persistence and energy on the court were commendable, even if the scoreboard didn’t reflect it just yet.
Japan’s relentless offense and sharp shooting from beyond the arc quickly turned the tide. What was once a comfortable lead for Team USA was now under serious threat. The Americans were clearly struggling to adapt to Japan’s sudden burst of energy and scoring prowess. Japan kept scoring three-pointers, each shot seemingly more precise than the last. The Japanese players were on fire, finding their rhythm and capitalizing on every opportunity. Meanwhile, Team USA was struggling hard. Despite their early dominance, they began to falter under Japan’s relentless pressure.
The Americans missed several crucial free throws, which only added to their woes as Japan continued to extend their run. There were a couple of miscommunications early for the United States, which may be attributed to a lack of time together – only a couple of weeks of practice before facing a talented opponent. On the other hand, Japan continued to go strong, maintaining their momentum and confidence with each successful three-pointer. They had clearly found a weakness in the American defense and were exploiting it to the fullest.
Notably, with Caitlyn Clark on the roster, such threats might have been neutralized more effectively. Her ability to control the pace and score from anywhere on the court would have been a significant asset in maintaining the lead. As the game progressed, it remained to be seen whether Team USA could regain their footing and pull away from Japan. With every passing minute, the tension rose, and the possibility of an upset loomed larger.
Coach Cheryl Reeve’s decisions were under intense scrutiny. Her strategies were not paying off as expected, and the team’s rhythm seemed off, raising concerns about their ability to go for the gold if such performance issues persisted. Despite their early lead and strong start, Team USA found themselves in a challenging position, struggling to keep up with Japan’s unexpected surge. The game turned into a real nail-biter, highlighting the need for better preparation and strategy moving forward.
