Team USA Shines with Aces’ Core in Dominant Victory over Germany
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — Coach Cheryl Reeve of Team USA is no stranger to the world of dynasties. Between 2011 and 2017, her Minnesota Lynx secured an impressive four WNBA championships. Moreover, during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, where Reeve served as an assistant coach, she witnessed firsthand how pivotal her players were in clinching the gold medal.
Now, as she looks down her bench in France, she finds a familiar and comforting sight: four starters from the Las Vegas Aces, the reigning two-time WNBA champions. This familiarity has translated into success, as evidenced by Team USA’s recent performance.
On Sunday night, the squad showcased their prowess, defeating Germany 87-68 in their final group stage match. The game began as a tight contest, with Germany even holding the lead after the first quarter. However, everything changed midway through the second quarter. Just a minute after Team USA took its first lead with an Alyssa Thomas layup, Reeve reintroduced A’ja Wilson to the game. Together with Aces guards Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young, this powerhouse trio sparked a surge, helping Team USA finish the first half with a commanding 17-7 run.
In the third quarter, the Aces’ influence became even more apparent. After allowing Germany to trim their lead to 10 points, Reeve made a strategic substitution, bringing Plum and Young back onto the floor alongside Wilson. This effective lineup quickly revitalized the offense, and Team USA ended the third quarter on a stunning 20-7 run.
Jackie Young had a standout performance, leading the team with a remarkable 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including an impressive 5-of-8 from three-point range. Prior to this game, Young had only logged just over 20 minutes of play in the tournament and had attempted just one shot — a three-pointer in the opener against Japan. Her success from long range is particularly crucial for Team USA, as the team had struggled with their shooting accuracy throughout the tournament. Excluding Young’s performance against Germany, the team had managed only 23.6 percent from beyond the arc in the group stage.
Geno Auriemma, the head coach of the 2016 Olympic team that featured four Lynx players, understands the immense value of chemistry within a team. He remarked, “Anytime you have a group of players who have played together, won together, and share exceptional chemistry, it is invaluable to a coach. Especially when there is limited practice time for preparation.” He fondly recalled the synergy of players like Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, and Lindsay Whalen during their time together.
As Team USA concludes the group play with a perfect 3-0 record, one question looms: Will they secure the No. 1 overall seed? The decision hinges on points differential, with France slightly ahead of Team USA by three points in that regard. With France scheduled to play after Team USA on Sunday night, they will have a clear target to aim for, creating an intriguing dynamic in the matchup against Australia.
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(Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant / Getty Images)
