This time, we’re talking about Cheryl Reeve and the intense practice she put Team USA through after their recent embarrassment at the All-Star Game. Let’s head to Paris for the full story.
As the U.S. Women’s Basketball team prepares for the Paris Olympics, more details have emerged about their brutal practice sessions following the All-Star Game in Phoenix. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese completely dominated Team USA, leading to a significant backlash and a rigorous training regime imposed by coach Cheryl Reeve.
Cheryl Reeve, who has been under scrutiny for her comments about Caitlin Clark, is facing criticism from WNBA fans across the country. According to reports, Team USA began its quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics with an intense practice session in London. After a demanding 10-hour flight from Phoenix on July 20th and a day of rest, the team gathered for their first practice on July 22nd. This was their first practice since their loss to Team WNBA in the All-Star Game, and it was described as “very active” by Coach Reeve.
Reeve told ESPN, “I thought it was a practice that we needed. You don’t give me any opportunities, and I love our approach. There were a lot of intangibles that occurred in that practice that was great for us.” It’s clear that Reeve felt the team needed this rigorous practice to rebound from their recent defeat.
Las Vegas Aces star A’ja Wilson described the practice as grueling, saying, “It felt more like we died because there was a lot of running. This is day one, this is practice one, step one to the standard and where we want to go, so we can’t really take a day off.” The practice was designed to get the players mentally and physically locked in for the upcoming games.
Despite the intense training, Team USA managed to beat Germany in their opening match. Cheryl Reeve commented on the game against Germany, saying, “A good game for us and some of the things that we’re trying to accomplish that we worked on in the one day that we had prior to the game.” Reeve, who has extensive experience with U.S. basketball, faced the challenge of preparing the team in a short period. The team had only been together for a week and a half, including two training camps held earlier this year—camps that Caitlin Clark could not attend because she was playing in the NCAA tournament.
Reeve’s coaching approach has evolved, focusing on keeping things simple to allow players to perform at a high level. Her focus has been on defense, aiming to create a flexible and resilient team. This strategy paid off against Germany, with Team USA holding their opponents to 29% shooting from the field.
However, the real test will be how this approach fares against other teams. The absence of big-time players like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese raises questions about the team’s performance against tougher competition. Critics argue that the team, comprised of older players, may struggle to maintain the intensity required for the Olympics.
In other news, one WNBA player and current Olympian expressed her reluctance to team up with Angel Reese on the Chicago Sky. Reports suggest that Team USA Superstar Jewell Loyd revealed why she didn’t want to play for the Chicago Sky. Despite growing up near Chicago, Loyd cited outdated accommodations and lack of spending as key factors in her decision to re-sign with the Seattle Storm last offseason.
The Chicago Sky, however, announced plans for a new $38 million practice facility, set to be built by December 2025. This new development might change the perception of the team and attract more top players in the future.
As we gear up for the Olympics, Cheryl Reeve’s rigorous training regimen and the dynamics within Team USA will be under close watch. Stay tuned for more updates, and keep those notifications on because I’ll continue bringing you the latest news. Until next time, shake the haters off! Peace out!
