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| Team USA at the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Puerto Rico. (FIBA.basketball photo) |
Team USA women's basketball head coach Dawn Staley knows the significance of the 2021 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Puerto Rico, where her team went 2-0 after an 87-65 win over the hosts on Sunday.
Amidst a reported head coaching offer from the Portland Trail Blazers which "flatters" her, Staley is focused on carrying the national team to the next FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
"Same opinion, but what I do is just focus on this AmeriCup and try to put us in a position where we can help the next national team up in the World Cup," Staley responded when asked about the potential head coaching role, where fellow WNBA legend Becky Hammon is also being considered.
The 51-year-old Staley, who is signed with the South Carolina Gamecocks through the 2024-2025 college basketball season, succeeded Geno Auriemma in 2016, signed by USA Basketball to a deal until 2020.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist player already coached the team to a 2018 FIBA Women's World Cup gold medal, and intends to do the same for the Tokyo Olympics.
Possibly in the homestretch of her assignment with the United States, Staley said being part of developing the next batch of World Cup-bound players has been an obligation she is fulfilling.
Team USA fought in a more competitive match against Puerto Rico, which is preparing for their first-ever Olympic stint in women's basketball.
Led by scorer Jennifer O'Neill who finished with a game-high 20 points on 50% shooting, the hosts gave the reigning gold medalists a good challenge in the first half, even taking the lead. Only a strong run towards the end of the second quarter put the United States on top by 10.
"With this young group, it is taking them a little bit of time to adjust to the physicality of it (and) what you can get away with out there on the floor, what you have to endure. It's taken a quarter just to get used to things," Staley noted. "(But) once we've adjusted, I thought our defense was much better ... our ability to rebound the ball was great."
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| Aliyah Boston of South Carolina. (FIBA.basketball photo) |
Represented by NCAA Division I players, Staley shared it takes a process to get used to the physicality and adjust to the international level of play, let alone playing against more grizzled pros. Executing and focusing on defense rather than trying to merely outscore opponents was an aspect of the game that can be vastly improved.
"All of our AmeriCup team members, players, they want to be pro. So being in this environment, seeing some of the Puerto Rican team, (they) just take advantage of it. They do that. They've been around this game a long time, they've played at this level, and it took us a long time to create some separation. I think our depth really helped us out," she said.
"I just think for us, we have a tendency, we've got a team full of great players who have the ability to score the basketball ... But that's going to get better. I'd rather have our defense in a great place; each and every game, we are getting better with it. And then, last thing is the offense. I would like for our team to shoot it a little better, pass it a little bit more, find who to shoot it rather than, I think sometimes we force it a little bit, and it's just because they're aggressive. It takes a little longer for that part to develop."
Nazahrah Hillmon-Baker (Michigan) and Rhyne Howard (Kentucky) led the red, white, and blue with 17 points apiece, while Aliyah Boston (South Carolina) added 15. The team outscored Puerto Rico, 50-22 in the second and third quarters combined.
"Going into the game, I was just really excited because coaches talked about how great the team is, this is their Olympic team, this team is going to Tokyo so just really excited because at some point, I want to be on the Olympic team and play against this type of high level competition," Boston, whom Staley coaches with the Gamecocks, added.
"I was just really excited and I am just glad we were able to get a nice team win."
The FIBA Women's AmeriCup serves as a qualifier for the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Australia next year, which means each game is vital for all 10 participating teams.
At 2-0, the United States have one foot in the quarter-finals, but would need to win there to make sure the streak of World Cup appearances extend.
Staley understands what's at stake, and she is determined not only to cap her stint with USA Basketball on a bright note, but also to pave the way for the next players representing the squad in the international stage.
After that, she can work on the next chapter of her coaching career, whether it's handling Damian Lillard in Rip City or otherwise.
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