US women’s 3×3 basketball team start Olympics 0-2 after loss to Azerbaijan

Tiffany Hayes scored 11 points, including the decisive basket in the final period, to lead Azerbaijan to a 20-17 victory over the United States in the women’s 3×3 basketball pool at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, beating the reigning champions 0-2.

The game was tied when Hayes, who plays for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, shot into the lane and made a layup to put Azerbaijan ahead 18-17 with six seconds left.

The US had a chance to regain the lead, but Hailey Van Lith’s two-pointer failed. A desperate US foul led to two free throws by Alexandra Mollenhauer to secure the victory.

The US was among the favorites to win again in these games, but the team has struggled so far, losing to Germany in the opener.

The lack of chemistry that doomed the US in the season opener, on both ends of the game, was on full display again on Wednesday.

“We’re the least experienced team here,” Burdick told USA Today after the loss to Germany. “We’ve got a lot of skill, a lot of talent, but you don’t win 3×3 games with that. That’s a prime-time example.”

Dearica Hamby had seven points and five rebounds to lead the U.S. She joined the team this summer after Cameron Brink suffered a knee injury. Van Lith added five points.

The U.S. still has a chance to win a medal. In the pool stage, all teams play each other once for a total of six games. The teams are then seeded one through six, with the top two receiving a bye to the semifinals. The unseeded teams play in a one-game elimination bracket before the semifinals and final.