Team USA had a shocking loss in womenโs 3×3 basketball at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Hailey Van Lith thinks the referees are to blame for this unexpected defeat. After losing 18-16 to Spain in overtime during the semifinals, she accused the referees of favoring Spain and allowing them to flop throughout the game. “This was 1000% BS. Those refs wanted the U.S. to lose,” Van Lith stated. She added that Spain’s players were not as good as they seemed and praised her teammates, saying they deserved to win.
Despite this setback, Team USA managed to secure a bronze medal by defeating Canada 16-13, although they were expected to win gold .
Referee Bias Allegations:
Van Lithโs comments came after ESPNโs Brian Windhorst mentioned on โThe Pat McAfee Showโ that there might be a bias against U.S. players in 3×3 basketball. Windhorst explained that it is harder for top U.S. players to qualify for the tournament because FIBA prioritizes growing the game globally rather than focusing on ratings or U.S. dominance.
โThere was like 15 hoops that she would have had to jump through,โ said Windhorst about Caitlin Clark not playing due to these difficulties. He suggested that because of America’s strength in traditional 5×5 basketball, other countries are given more chances in 3×3.
Fans might feel frustrated hearing about these biases against their favorite team.
Whether or not Van Lith agrees with this theory, she firmly believes her team was treated unfairly this year.
Van Lith is one of college basketball’s standout players and recently announced her transfer to a new school.
What do you think about these claims? Do you believe there is bias against Team USA?
