USA Wins 93-62 in Final Tune-Up
With Louisville continuing the summer dead period (the last UofL women's athletic event I can find news on is soccer wrapping up their youth camp), Racing Louisville off this week, and the WNBA on summer break for the All-Star game and Olympics, there really isn't much to talk about. One thing that is going on these days is the lead up to the Olympics. Team USA bounced back from their loss to Australia yesterday, but you'd be hard pressed to figure that out. After a number of searches, I was able to find the final score, but not a box score of any type.
The game is a preview of how the two teams will open the Olympic games in Tokyo, as they're set to play one another on July 27th. The Nigerian team will hope to have two big boosts to their ranks in that game that they did not have yesterday, as Nneke Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams are not currently allowed to play for the team. Those two and Nneke's sister, Chiney, all applied for the opportunity to play for Nigeria after being left off of the USA Basketball roster. Chiney was allowed as a naturalized citizen, but Nneke and Williams were rejected. The three argue that they are all Nigerian citizens by birth due to Nigerian parents, but will need the Court of Arbitration of Sports to rule in their favor in the appeal to be able to play in the Olympics.
A big win for Team USA was very needed. The team hadn't lost in international competition since 2010 prior to the Australia game, so an Olympic gold medal was going to require a confidence boost. While the only Cardinal adjacent player headed to Tokyo for basketball is Merissah Russell as an alternate for Canada, ex-Cardinal Elizabeth Balogun helped this Nigerian team qualify for the Olympics. With a lot of young talent coming out of Louisville women's basketball in recent years and in the future, there may be a good chance to see Louisville Cardinals once again representing Team USA as Angel McCoughtry did for many years. Remember, both Hailey Van Lith and Olivia Cochran have been with youth versions of the team in recent years.
That's all for me today. A slow weekend will do that. Paulie should be back to these pages soon.
Until next time, Go Cards!
-CH-
Good stuff! Where is Paulie? I know that in past years he and Sonja usually make a trip to the Smokey Mts
ReplyDeleteCurtis "Be Kind" Franklin
Not currently a vacation, but for any more information than that I'll have to let Paulie speak for himself!
DeleteThanks for update! Paulie you take care of yourself. You have a fine bunch of writers and they can carry you if needed.Im a phone call away if you need anything
DeleteCurtis "Be Kind" Franklin
Thank you for asking. I'm currently undergoing some medical procedures but should be back to writing on Wednesday and then back on podcast Saturday. I AM home now and waiting for next step procedures.
ReplyDeletePaulie
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Feel better Paulie! Miss you!
ReplyDeleteNick O.
Get well soon Paulie. You take care.
ReplyDeleteBlue Lou