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SPORTS Friday 30 September 2022

Without Griner, U.S. using versatile posts Stewart and Wilson

By DOUG FEINBERG Americans 28-26 inside.
AP Basketball Writer “It’s one of those things
SYDNEY (AP) — Without you got to live with,” Wilson
Brittney Griner’s 6-foot- said. “Hopefully these next
8 presence to dominate couple of games we can
around the basket, the U.S. get back to owning the
women needed to figure paint. Serbia did a great
out how to overcome her job of locking it down.”
absence. As well as Stewart and Wil-
So far, so good. son have played, the U.S.
The Americans have rolled would love to have Griner
through the World Cup, in the lineup. The Ameri-
beating opponents by cans decided to honor her
average of 44 points per by not having anyone wear
game without Griner and her No. 15 jersey at the
one of the best frontcourts World Cup. Brionna Jones is
ever assembled in wom- wearing No. 16 instead.
en’s basketball. “We’d rather have Brittney
Griner was sentenced to in there for sure,” U.S.
nine years in prison last coach Cheryl Reeve said.
month in Russia on a drug “We want to put it inside as
charge. President Joe that’s the strength of USA
Biden called the verdict Basketball. We will continue
in the politically charged United States’ Breanna Stewart runs past Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Milica Deura to shoot during to have the ball inside.”
case “unacceptable,” and their game at the women’s Basketball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022. It’s not a new strategy. The
Associated Press
U.S. diplomats have been U.S. has dominated inside
working to secure her re- during World Cup play dat-
lease. defend all types of players. win over China. She hit of the past players.” ing to the days of Lisa Leslie
While Griner’s circum- “A’ja and I can bring them 15-foot jumpers and also Even without Griner, the U.S. and Tina Thompson.
stances have weighed on to the block or outside and scored in the paint against has dominated its competi- It’s not just Wilson and Stew-
the team emotionally, her that keeps the defense China’s much taller lineup tion in the paint, outscoring art who are contributing to
absence is one of many guessing and we have a lot that featured 6-10 Han Xu. its group opponents by an the U.S. run in Sydney.
changes to the U.S. lineup. of different options,” Stew- Stewart and Wilson also average of 36 points. The Shakira Austin had 19
The Americans are also art said. “We know we can helped hold China about Americans are averaging points, 10 rebounds and
without 6-5 Sylvia Fowles give them a lot of different 40 points under what the 60.8 points inside the lane, three blocks in the win over
and 6-4 Tina Charles, who looks.” country was averaging in including an eye-popping Puerto Rico, and Brionna
retired from the team after Stewart, 28, and Wilson, 26, the tournament. 94 against South Korea. Jones added 15 points.
winning several gold med- should give the U.S. a formi- “Stewie and I can switch “It’s insane,” forward Alyssa At 22, Austin is the youngest
als including at the Tokyo dable 1-2 punch for a long defensively, which is great,” Thomas said. “I’ve never player on the team and is
Olympics last year. time though they hope Gri- Wilson said. “Don’t get seen any numbers like that. playing with the U.S. for the
However, 6-4 Breanna ner will be rejoining them me wrong, BG and Syl are It’s what we are trying to do first time.
Stewart and 6-5 A’ja Wil- soon. missed. I look around and by getting the ball inside.” “She has such great
son have been able to fill Wilson, who arrived Friday am like, ‘Where is every- The U.S. didn’t have as length,” Reeve said. “She’s
the void. They are different after celebrating the Las body?’ It’s me and Stewie much success inside in the great in the paint.”
types of post players. Both Vegas Aces’ first WNBA now. We’ve done this be- 88-55 quarterfinal win over Familiar praise coming from
are versatile with the ability championship, scored 20 fore. But yeah we’re defi- Serbia, which clogged the a coach about an Ameri-
to play inside and out, and points in Saturday’s 77-63 nitely different than some paint and outscored the can post player.q

Bowman is 2nd driver to suffer concussion in Next Gen car

AP Auto Racing Writer medical guidance to en- last among the remaining
Alex Bowman will miss Sun- sure I can return to compe- 12 playoff drivers. The field
day’s race at Talladega Su- tition as soon as possible.” will be cut to eight after
perspeedway with a con- Bowman is now the sec- next week’s race in Char-
cussion the Hendrick Mo- ond driver sidelined with lotte. NASCAR this year in-
torsports driver apparently a concussion suffered in troduced its Next Gen car
suffered last week at Texas. a crash of NASCAR’s new that was designed to cut
HMS said Bowman was Next Gen car. Kurt Busch costs and level the play-
evaluated Thursday in has been out since a crash ing field, but the safety of
Charlotte, North Carolina, July 23 in qualifying at Po- the spec car has been un-
and ruled out of this week- cono and withdrew his spot der fire since Busch’s crash.
end’s playoff race. Noah in the 16-driver playoff field. Drivers have complained
Gragson will drive the No. Busch said this week he’s they feel the impact much
48 Chevrolet for Bowman. hopeful to race before the more in crashes than they
“I’m disappointed but end of the season. Bow- did in the old car, and a
know my health is the num- man crashed on Lap 98 at rash of blown tires and Alex Bowman (48) drives during the NASCAR Cup Series auto
ber one priority,” Bowman Texas on Sunday but went broken parts has plagued race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday,
posted on social media. “I on to finish the race. He the first four races of the Sept. 25, 2022.
am committed to follow all finished 29th and is ranked playoffs.q Associated Press