USA’s Hailey Van Lith Says After 3×3 Loss She Got Sick from Rain at Opening Ceremony

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVJuly 31, 2024

Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

The United States women got off to a rough start in their opening game at the 3×3 basketball tournament on Tuesday, losing to Germany, 17-13, a surprising loss for the defending gold medalists.

An illness that Hailey Van Lith has been battling during the Paris Games didn’t help.

“I think I actually have a cold,” she told reporters after the game. “I think it was from the rain in the opening ceremony. So, I think it’s a combination of that, but I’ll be fine. I played through it in the NCAA tournament, so there’s nothing that’s going to take me out.”

Van Lith still led the U.S. with six points.

The Americans had a slightly modified roster after Cameron Brink’s knee injury kept her from performing. She was replaced by Dearica Hamby, and the rust showed.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty,” Cierra Burdick told reporters after Tuesday’s loss regarding the new lineup. “I didn’t think it was going to be that ugly.”