Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 2 OcTOber 2018
Challenge grows for U.S. to keep spinning gold in basketball

By DOUG FEINBERG "Listen, three games in a be. Both African teams, Ni-
AP Basketball Writer row? I'm lucky if I play back- geria and Senegal, feature
SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LA- to-backs in the WNBA," Bird former American college
GUNA, Spain (AP) — Sue said. "It's a question mark. and WNBA players who
Bird and Diana Taurasi Three game in a row? And have competed against
know that winning a World the other thing about these U.S. players. Both squads
Cup keeps getting more games is, they are very in- led the U.S. before falling.
difficult. tense. Teams are picking "They have two eyes just like
With the rest of the world up full court. They are pres- we have two eyes," said Ni-
improving, the two iconic suring you for 40 minutes. gerian guard Sarah Ogoke,
U.S. players are especially For these other countries, who grew up in Houston.
proud of what they ac- they've been champing "They don't have six heads."
complished with a third at the bit, waiting for these Still, the Americans have
straight championship. games. We've just come the best players, and even
"The World Champion- off seasons." While the U.S. if Bird and Taurasi don't re-
ship, now the World Cup, still hasn't lost since earn- turn in 2022 when they both
is always the hardest one ing the bronze in the 2006 will be in their early 40s, the United States players celebrate after winning the Women's
to win," said Taurasi. "It's a World Cup, the games are U.S. has a solid nucleus with basketball World Cup final match between Australia and the
grind, it's physically tough getting more competitive. World Cup MVP Breanna U.S.A. in Tenerife, Spain, Sunday Sept. 30, 2018.
and mentally tough. When The U.S. trailed at some Stewart, A'ja Wilson, Elena Associated Press
you talk about playing point for every game in the Delle Donne and Brittney
three games in three nights, tournament until the title Griner. The Americans are then in February 2020. The many players missing.
you just don't do that any- game against Australia, 100-1 in major internation- Americans already have "It's a chance for us to get
more as a pro. This is the which it won 73-56 on Sun- al competitions since the secured a berth in the 2020 together and get some
only tournament that chal- day. The Americans won 1996 Olympics. Tokyo Olympics. of our younger players an
lenges you in that way." the six games by an aver- One thing that will help the These new tournaments opportunity to compete
The Olympics, where the age of 20.3 points — their U.S. stay on top is a change will give the U.S. an op- in international competi-
Americans have won six slimmest margin since 1998. in the qualifying system for portunity to train more and tions," USA Basketball CEO
straight gold medals, are With women's basketball the Olympics and World play in meaningful tourna- Jim Tooley said. "We also
somewhat easier with days growing around the world, Cup. There will be qualify- ments during those months will have the opportunity to
off between medal-round teams just aren't as afraid ing tournaments starting instead of working out at host some of the events as
games. of the U.S. as they used to in November 2019 and camp for a few days with well."q