After winning 52 consecutive exhibition games, Team USA has lost back-to-back exhibition games. First, they lost to the WNBA All-Stars 93-85 behind Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale’s 26 points. She was the All-Star game MVP. Second, Team USA lost to the Australians Women’s National Team 70-67. Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor led the Opals with 17 points. Despite their play over the last two exhibition games, Team USA still is the favorite to win their seventh consecutive gold medal for the red, white, and blue.
Missing Players and Omissions
Something to note about this roster is the absence of a player from the 2016 Gold Medal team such as the Mystics F/C Elena Delle Donne. However, one of the biggest omissions is that of Nneka Ogwumike, a six-time All-Star for the Sparks. I could go on and mention many of her other accomplishments, but I will leave that to her little sister and a two-time All-Star in her own right, Chiney Ogwumike:
✔️WNBA MVP & Champion in 2016 (last Olympic year)
— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) June 21, 2021
✔️6x All-Star
✔️4x All-WNBA
✔️4x WNBA All-Defensive Team
✔️2x FIBA World Cup Gold Medalist
✔️ No. 1 pick & ROY
✔️Euroleague Champion
✔️WNBPA President
✔️oh, and she is one of few who went to every Team USA camp the last 5 years pic.twitter.com/iEzDduj4Kj
Team USA Roster
Looking at the current roster, you have the experience in guards Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi (five-time Olympians), forward Sylvia Fowles (four-time Olympian), center Tina Charles (three-time Olympian), and forward Breanna Stewart, and center Brittney Griner (two-time Olympians). The rest of the team are first-timers: guards Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jewell Loyd, Chelsea Gray, and Ariel Atkins along with forwards Napheesa Collier and A’ja Wilson.
My confidence in this squad is amplified because they have four of the top scorers per game in Charles, Stewart, Griner, and Wilson. Plus, three of the five in blocks per game in Griner, Fowles, and Stewart. My only concern goes back to the omission of Nneka Ogwumike. With all due respect to Collier and her game, N. Ogwumike was the better option because of her experience.
If you did not watch the game vs. Australia, watch it because you will see how Ogwumike could have been valuable in place of Collier. Team USA head coach Dawn Staley, a three-time Gold medalist as a player and current head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks; will have some adjustments to make going forward. I trust that this team will get on the same page and figure it out with the experience and skillset on this roster.
Depending on how you see the glass of your favorite beverage; the biggest challenge to winning gold is Australia. The Australian team will be without center Liz Cambage due to personal issues. Along with Magbegor, the Opals have the WNBA’s leader in three-point percentage this season in Seattle Storm forward Stephanie Talbot at 51.3% from beyond the arc. Losing to them is maybe the best thing to happen to Team USA; since they know how to better prepare for the next time (play in the paint…cough).
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