The USA is not good for FIBA basketball.U.S. didn't even play very well, only 35% shooting, still cruised to the victory.
I just watched the finals press conference and I have to say that Staley gave really good answers - very impressive. Have not always been a fan of Dawn's but it was a statesman like performance.
Thought both DT and Stewart were really good as well.

Congrats to Dawn and the team. I thought Dawn would struggle a bit more in this first outing and especially with so many new faces, but USA just rolled along as usual.
We talked about guard selection and I don't think anyone really stood up and said 'the future is ME!' No one proved they didn't belong either, just nothing that really stood out to me.
I agree about Loyd and while I saw some negative comments posted in other threads I actually thought both Plum and Clarendon had some solid contributions over the last three weeks as well. But I thought they, and Loyd as well, didn't do enough to make the next Olympic selection assured.Echo your statement about the team just rolling along. As Kara Lawson pointed out (more than) a few times in her commentary yesterday, the U.S. is virtually a sure thing on this stage. Once Ms. Griner joined the rock-solid Stewie, Taurasi and Bird in the line-up, this team looked beyond. When Maya rejoins the fray for the Olympics, one should feel very optimistic.
Regarding your second comment, I generally agree but excuse me for a minute to extol Ms. Loyd's contributions, particularly based on the Belgium and Australia games. While she didn't go nuts in terms of scoring (8 and 9, respectively), Jewell stepped it up in other areas, from rebounding and assists and most notably, defense. She led the team in steals yesterday (3) and helped hound her Seattle Storm teammate Sami Whitcomb into a 6-turnover day and one for four shooting.
These kinds of contributions led Lawson to say she thought Loyd had earned Coach Staley's trust.
Got two more years to see who else might step up or down, but I though Jewell took a solid step up the ladder. Not a huge one, but a positive, good one, both for herself and the team.
Congrats to Dawn and the team. I thought Dawn would struggle a bit more in this first outing and especially with so many new faces, but USA just rolled along as usual.
We talked about guard selection and I don't think anyone really stood up and said 'the future is ME!' No one proved they didn't belong either, just nothing that really stood out to me.
Just how lucky are we as fans???
I got to watch the game in person and chat with Diana and Tina this morning. Really, really, really lucky.


As Dawn said at the presser they walked on the floor with Plan A and BG's early aggressive play let them stay with Plan A the whole game. With Australia as the finals opponent it was good the team was a little or more than a little Bigs heavy. Stewie got to play the 3 and as she left the podium I heard her say "the 3 is for me!" (joke folks). Love that she is headed to Russia this year (club anyone?)
I worry about players choosing Europe - the season is significantly longer and the number of different competitions leads to many more games - I think the competition is likely better as well making the games more demanding (?)As Dawn said at the presser they walked on the floor with Plan A and BG's early aggressive play let them stay with Plan A the whole game. With Australia as the finals opponent it was good the team was a little or more than a little Bigs heavy. Stewie got to play the 3 and as she left the podium I heard her say "the 3 is for me!" (joke folks). Love that she is headed to Russia this year (club anyone?)
Does anyone have the link for the presser; I can’t seem to find it.As Dawn said at the presser they walked on the floor with Plan A and BG's early aggressive play let them stay with Plan A the whole game. With Australia as the finals opponent it was good the team was a little or more than a little Bigs heavy. Stewie got to play the 3 and as she left the podium I heard her say "the 3 is for me!" (joke folks). Love that she is headed to Russia this year (club anyone?)