SAN JUAN—It may have not been the strongest team TeamUSA could field with several WNBA
The USA, which outscored its six opponents by 38.7 points a
game during the tournament, featured three players on the AmeriCup All-Star
Five Team—Jordin Canada (Seattle Storm), Diamond DeShields
(Chicago Sky) and Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), who was also named MVP
of the tournament. Rounding out the All-Star team were Kayla Alexander
(Canada) and Damiris Dantas (Brazil).
“I think I just went out there and played my game,” said
Fowles on her MVP honor. “Normally when I'm on a platform like this, I tend to
rush and speed up. I think I'm at the age now where I can slow down and let the
game come to me. I think that's what I did throughout this tournament, I just let
the game come to me and played well for the most part.”
The USA winning effort in the gold medal game featured
another balanced offensive showing. USA veterans, former UConn star Tina
Charles (New York Liberty) and Fowles paced the USA with 12 points apiece,
Canada added 11 points and Stefanie Dolson (Chicago Sky), another former
Husky, finished with 10 points.
“We got off to a slow start,” admitted Dawn Staley,
USA National Team and University of South Carolina head coach. “I thought we
were forcing things a little bit. We played at Canada's pace. Once we turned up
our defense, got into transition and got some easy buckets, I thought we got
into a better flow. Today, playing against Canada, when we needed to score, it
came from our defense. It was really promising that we were able to bear down,
get some stops and turn them into some easy transition buckets.”
In a game in which the U.S. shot just 36.1 percent (26-72
from the field (26-for-72, including just 2 for-15 from beyond the three-point
arc), the USA relied on its suffocating defense to shut down Canada. Canada was
limited to 27.5 percent shooting from the field (19-for-69, including 3-for-30
from beyond the arc), and forced into 18 turnovers.
“Our movement was kind of slow, but we did well on defense
against Canada,” said Fowles. “It kind of slowed them down a little bit and
made it hard for them to make shots. We tried to rebound off them and get out
in transition, so it made it easier for us in that area.”
The USA also owned a 57-44 advantage on the glass and
outscored Canada 21-9 in second-chance points. Charles and yet another UConn
star, WNBA Rookie of the Year Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx,
led the USA on the glass with 11 rebounds each, while Canada and Fowles added
six boards each.
The USA led 14-9 in a low scoring first quarter, and Canada
scored the first seven points of the second quarter to pull ahead 16-14. A 3
from Canada's Miranda Ayim pushed Canada in front 19-18 and with 3:21 remaining
before intermission and following a 3 from Canada's Aaliyah Edwards, the USA
led by a point, 25-24.
Getting four points from Canada, three points from DeShields
and two points from Charles, the Americans closed out the first half with 9-0
run to create some breathing space and take a 34-24 lead to the locker room at
halftime.
Fowles and Charles opened the third quarter with baskets as
the USA lead ballooned to 38-24. Canada continued to struggle to put points in
the scorebook and the USA led 57-38 heading into the final quarter and went on
to post the 67-46 win.
“It felt great to be amongst those other four,” said Canada.
“To be with Diamond and Sylvia up there, it's a great feeling.”
“It's always an honor to be recognized as one of the top
players in a tournament like this,” added DeShields. “There are so many great
players, talented players, and I'm just honored.”
Former UConn star and current George Washington head coach Jennifer Rizzoti was a member of Dawn Staley's staff. Staley, of course, replaced Geno Auriemma as head coach.
—Staff Reports
@LynxCoachReeve @JenRizzotti @dawnstaley @Tokyo2020 #USABWNT
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