Rhyne Howard, Team USA set to face Spain in semifinals of 3x3

After an admittedly terrible start to the 3×3 event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Rhyne Howard and Team USA have bounced back with a vengeance.

The Americans opened up the Women’s 3×3 Basketball with a 0-3 record, losing to Germany, Azerbaijan, and Australia in a matter of three days. But with Howard helping lead the charge, Team USA has since rattled off five straight wins and now finds themselves in the semifinals. They’ll take on Spain for the second time in these Olympics later this morning at 11:30 a.m. EST on USA/Peacock with a shot in the championship on the line.

Team USA’s previous win over Spain on August 1 was actually the victory that sparked the current win streak. The Americans won that matchup 17-11 and have yet to look back. USA took down China in back-to-back games on Saturday, the first to close out pool play action and the second to reach today’s semifinals.

Medal Monday!

🇺🇸 #3x3WNT vs 🇪🇸 Spain (11:30 am ET)
➡️🥉 Bronze Medal Game (3 pm ET)
➡️🥇 Gold Medal Game (4 pm ET)

📺 @USANetwork + @peacock #Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/4lSZ4nhrKd

— USA Basketball 3×3 (@usab3x3) August 5, 2024

Joining Howard on Team USA — which entered as the event’s two-seed — are Hailey Van Lith (a former Louisville Cardinal), Dearica Hamby, and Cierra Burdick. Let’s dive into the stats for Team USA from the seven pool play games. As a reminder, 3×3 Basketball ends when the first team scores 21 points (or whoever is leading after 10 minutes). Shots inside the arc and free throws are worth one point while shots beyond the arc are worth two points.

• Howard: 3.9 PPG, 2.3 RPG | 52 1PT%, 25 2PT%
• Van Lith: 4.7 PPG, 2.3 RPG | 38 1PT%, 58 2PT%
• Hamby: 4.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG | 52 1PT%, 20 2PT%
• Burdick: 2.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG | 63 1PT%, 0 2PT%

Howard has been critical to Team USA’s success during this recent five-game winning streak. The former Kentucky great (turned Florida assistant coach) hit the game-winning two-pointer to beat Canada in overtime on Friday. She’s coming off a recent injury too — Howard suffered a left ankle injury in late June and wasn’t cleared until a couple of weeks before heading off to Paris.

Despite entering this event with very little 3×3 experience, Howard (the first Kentucky alum to play 3×3 in the Olympics) and Team USA have found ways to churn out victories. They’ve looked better with every passing game and are clicking at the perfect time. Only two more wins separate them from a gold medal.

On the other side of the bracket, Germany (which led the standings with six wins) takes on Canada at 12:30 p.m. EST. The two teams that advance to the gold medal round will play this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. EST. If Team USA ends up losing to Spain, they’ll play in the bronze medal game at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Adebola Adeyeye, Nigeria make first-ever knockout stage

Another former Kentucky player will fight for gold on the hardwood as well. Adebola Adeyeye, who played one season with the Wildcats in 2022-23 after four seasons at Buffalo, will represent Nigeria as their women’s national team has qualified for its first-ever knockout stage in the Olympics.

Adeyeye only appeared in one of three Group Phase games for Nigeria, playing just three minutes without recording any stats. However, she would earn a medal just like the rest of her teammates if Nigeria ultimately makes it that far. That could be difficult though. Why? Because up first in the quarterfinals is Team USA, the overwhelming favorite to win gold.

Nigeria and USA will go head-to-head on Wednesday afternoon.