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Despite the United States securing a gold medal in women’s basketball, Cheryl Reeve’s management of the team’s exceptional talent at the Olympics left much to be desired. Her performance has sparked debate about whether she should continue in the same role for the 2028 Games.

With fresh faces expected to join Team USA in Los Angeles four years from now, a change in leadership may also be necessary.

Reeve’s Olympic cycle got off to a rocky start, particularly in how she handled Caitlin Clark. Excluding the No. 1 overall pick from the roster was controversial, but her cold and bitter response to questions about the decision only made matters worse. Even after Clark and the WNBA All-Stars delivered a humbling defeat to the national team before their Olympic journey, Reeve’s demeanor didn’t soften, further complicating her standing as head coach.

While Reeve’s abrasive attitude was off-putting, it had nothing to do with the Xs and Os. Unfortunately, her on-court decisions in Paris were equally as frustrating.

Team USA was a 22.5-point favorite against Belgium and only won by 13. It was a 19-point favorite against Germany and only won by nine. The 27.5-point favorites only defeated Nigeria by 14.

And then there was the gold medal game.

France was 16-point underdogs. Even though that spread might’ve been a little bit too big with the home court advantage, the United States only won by one after narrowly escaping overtime.

Cheryl Reeve was awful.

Reeve kept three of the best three-point shooters in WNBA history on the bench (and Clark at home) throughout the majority of the game while her team struggled to get out in front of France. Sabrina Ionescu did not play until the third quarter. Britney Griner only played five minutes after playing very well throughout the rest of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the French packed the paint with their best defenders because the American guards weren’t a threat from the free throw line. And the biggest big on the U.S. roster wasn’t on the floor to combat them.

It was baffling!

Fortunately, Team USA’s talent overcame Reeve’s terrible roster management and kept a 61-game winning streak in tact. The United States has not lost a single game at the Olympics since 1992.

Cheryl Reeve needs to go if that streak is going to continue!

A large portion of the roster is going to look very different for Los Angeles in 2028. Diana Taurasi will not be back. Griner may or may not. Alyssa Thomas, Jewell Loyd and Chelsea Gray the same.

Assuming that they continue to ball out on the hardwood, Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark, JuJu Watkins, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers and Cameron Brink will be on the team. Ionescu, Aja Wilson, and Kah Copper should be back. Arike Ogunbowale probably definitely should’ve been on this year’s team.

The U.S. roster in four years could be the best international women’s basketball of all-time. (On paper!)

Imagine if Clark got the same treatment in 2028 as Ionescu on Sunday?!

Cheryl Reeve, who already proved that she plays favorites, should not coach that group. Sunday’s nearly disastrous win over France should be her last game as the head coach of Team USA.

If the streak is going to continue, she must go…

Dawn Staley won gold in 2021 and she has a rapport with this young group of rising WNBA superstars. They love her!

Perhaps it would be a good idea to run it back?