Stream of consiousness thoughts from USA Basketball vs. Nigeria — Coquese Washington talks Rutgers

Basketball Wednesday

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What a luxury to have A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier in the frontcourt. Three true bigs, size-wise, who can shoot it from anywhere and defend 3-5 with ease. The result is USA Basketball’s defense can still extend out well beyond the three-point line even with the size advantage

Multiple early turnovers generated by Team USA as a result, out of deciding to be the aggressor early on… surprised United States took a chance not start in Diana Taurasi. If they’re not careful, she might not be willing to return for 2028…

The fact that we have Brittney Griner playing this well in the 2024 Olympics would’ve felt like a pipe dream when she was being held prisoner. It has just not been that long and it is and continues to be miraculous that she is back, she has been able to resume her career, and there’s been no degrading of her skills or performance. Simply an incredible tribute to human resilience, not to mention a continued gift for women’s basketball fans…

It is remarkable how infrequently Jewell Loyd forces things for what is a volume shooter. That early career experience with Sue Bird and Stewart imprinted on her, and is a primary reason the Seattle Storm were so smart to build around her, not rebuild without her… Promise Amukamara, Elizabeth Balogun, Ezinne Kalu are all legit — this Nigeria team has TALENT, their success is not just about style of play (though this, too is a major advantage in tournament play, more teams should try the constant pressure approach)… early in the shot clock, Diana Taurasi from 35 feet. Cheryl Reeve’s not going to like that shot…

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The difference between a good outcome and a great one for Sabrina Ionescu has been her absolute unwillingness to accept being a one-way player, and working so hard on the defensive end… with Nigeria, the tallest player being just 6’2, anywhere Brittany Griner receives the ball is functionally an open shot for Brittney Griner…

The luxury of being able to wait until 7:31 left in the second quarter to substitute Kelsey Plum into the game — god, what talent on this team… Not A’ja Wilson deciding to take matters into her own hands after Nigeria cut it to four — the difference between good and great, knowing the “when to”, as Geno Auriemma always describes it. That’s been the most enjoyable part of watching Wilson’s evolution as a player. Seeing her go from being unstoppable when she gets to her spots to a player who is unstoppable wherever she is on the floor and knowing precisely when to choose to do it… watching Plum follow with a mini 5-0 run of her own, it is striking how many USA players are capable of taking over individually without sacrificing the collective on this team…

Nigeria does a great job blocking everyone else out and naturally Jackie Young, an elite rebounding guard, steps forward to grab a second chance opportunity… What a great job the United States has done in the latter part of the first half in speeding up Nigeria in the half court…

“What do you do with A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart on the same side of the court?” the great LaChina Robinson says. That pretty well sums it up. Seven turnovers at the half for the U.S. That number needed to be double for Nigeria to have a chance…

Halftime thought bubble: imagine thinking Caitlin Clark, who will be an elite performer for USA basketball for many years to come and would have been a worthy choice in 2024, is so much better than any of these players that USA basketball not including her on the team is somehow a scandal…

Second half was pretty simple. Every key player on Team USA knows how to smell blood and step on opponents. Nigeria doesn’t give up — to the buzzer, truly, a late run to close that margin — and I cannot wait to see that national program thrive, if its federation funds it properly. What a beautiful thing, watching women’s basketball grow everywhere in the world. We’ll be talking about this Nigeria team and what it accomplished — the new bar it set for the African continent, first men’s or women’s basketball team from the continent to reach the OIympic quarterfinals — for many years to come.

Meanwhile: I’ve covered two parades for the U.S. women after World Cup wins in soccer. Why have I never covered a parade for USA Basketball? If this team completes the task ahead – no guarantee, for all their greatness, with the level of play we’re seeing around the world, and Australia, France and Belgium could all beat the United States — shouldn’t we see one for a team that captures an eighth consecutive gold medal? Now 59 straight wins? We last saw the 5-on-5 team lost in August 1992. Give them a parade!

Stathead Stat of the Week

Breanna Stewart had 54 rebounds in the five games of the WNBA Finals. Only two players have had more in a WNBA Finals.

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Five at The IX: Coquese Washington