TCU star Hailey Van Lith blames the opening ceremony weather for loss against Germany in 2024 Olympics

TCU star Hailey Van Lith didn't hold back after Team USA's shocking 17-13 loss to Germany in the 3x3 basketball opener at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Van Lith, who has been dealing with illness, pointed a finger at the rain-soaked opening ceremony as a contributing factor.

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"I think I actually have a cold," Van Lith admitted to ESPN on Tuesday. "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."

Despite her ailment, Van Lith led the charge with six points on 5-of-9 shooting and grabbed three rebounds. Her teammates—Dearica Hamby, Cierra Burdick and Rhyne Howard—struggled to find their rhythm and totaled just seven points on a dismal 6-for-19 from the field.

Team USA entered the Olympics as the defending champion with high expectations, especially after their gold-medal performance during the 2020 games in Tokyo. However, the loss against Germany has left the team with an uphill battle to reclaim their glory.

Van Lith, a former LSU star, averaged 11.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game as she helped lead the Tigers to the Elite Eight last season. She transferred to TCU in April 2024.

Hailey Van Lith looks back at Germany loss in Paris Olympics

The college basketball star felt the team played “soft” in the crucial moments that led to their loss against Germany.

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"At the end of the game, honestly, we were winded," Van Lith admitted to the media after the game. "We started playing soft. And they played much harder than us.”

The defending champions struggled offensively and couldn't maintain their momentum despite rushing to a 5-0 lead.

Germany tied the game at 11-11 after a counterattack by Hamby, but Sonja Greinacher's two-pointer and Marie Reichert's clutch shot sealed the win for the Matthias Weber-led squad.

The 3x3 format, different from traditional 5-on-5, demands strong chemistry; and Team USA only had two weeks of practice together. This lack of preparation showed as the Americans were outfoxed and outshot.

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