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While the Rio Olympics may have suggested otherwise, there is a potential for the gap between the USA and the rest of the world to eventually narrow one day if USA don’t work hard to maintain their outrageously brilliant standards.

With some of the finest legends the women’s game has ever seen having recently waved goodbye to the international stage in Rio, the challenge will be for future American generations to ensure there is no road block and USA can remain streets ahead.

I recently wrote about this for my column at FIBA.com

And for those regular visitors to the terrific Blue Star Media, you guys are the experts on which actual US players can compete to take those long-term spots and especially in the all-important backcourt.

All of this is of course set within the context of the wake-up call that was handed to the USA at the FIBA Americas U16 Women’s Championship in Puebla last year. Then what happened just three months ago in Zaragoza, when USA were unceremoniously dethroned for the first time at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship. That wasn’t so much a wake-up call, but someone sneaking into the house and punching you squarely on the nose as you rest easy on the pillow.

Whether USA have fallen asleep or taken things for granted at youth level is a debate for another day – and I do doubt that. But suffice to say there are clear issues around preparation time and selection itself (I understand that will always be a minefield politically) which I am sure will be addressed after what has happened in the last two summers. USA are and should always be the very, very best. Or at least, that is how I view them. They are the greatest and to see them fall short in successive competitions was alarming even for a neutral like myself.

Weaving together the first few points around the dominance of the senior side and the indifferent last couple of results at u16 and U17 levels, one of the key issues that will determine whether USA can continue soaring past everyone else on the Olympic and World stage will be the level of talent which other countries produce.

As Serbia have shown with their EuroBasket Women title last year and bronze medal in Rio on their Olympic debut, great things can happen when the right combination of players come together at the right time. Meanwhile Spain, Australia, France and Canada should remain the USA’s closest challenger for a long time because of the women’s programs they have in place and their tradition.

I feel that there is some wonderful talent globally, but I don’t see glut of talent in one particular nation which could necessarily swing the pendulum away from USA in the medium to longer term. Although I guess the Australian Sapphires team which won a first ever title at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship this year might eventually make that statement seem a little misguided. On reflection, they were as classy as any USA team I have seen down the years which is the ultimate compliment.

Still, I feel the ball is very much in the court of USA basketball. I believe it is their choice as to whether they react to these wake-up calls at youth level and ensure that the building blocks will be in place to make sure they remain imperious when it comes to the global headline tournaments at senior level.

Perhaps the most pertinent point is that if I was coaching, scouting, mentoring or indeed a teenage female baller in the States right now, I would be so excited. It feels to me like an almost unprecedented gap has opened for a handful of special players to come through for the 2024 Olympics (assuming 2020 is just too soon).

Even if it might seem like a lifetime ahead, opportunity is knocking as loud as it ever has for top talent in the USA. Using showcases provided by Blue Star can be a nice springboard – and naturally nothing matters without the hard work , commitment and a vision to be the greatest you can be.

USA Basketball and these future women’s ballers in the US need to sharpen up again if they want to make the most of this exciting chance to shine and fulfil dreams.

The warning shot is that there is some serious talent emerging all over the world and USA can’t afford to continue missing the top step of the podium at youth level. It’s their step. The one that they have to be standing on. They may have no divine right to access it, but not seeing them there feels plain wrong.

In future blogs I will look at some of the rising youth stars in different Continents, who has shone at this year’s youth tournaments individually and collectively – including an U16 German generation which has got the whole of Europe excited.

Keep it locked to Blue Star Media and you can catch up with me @basketmedia365

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Paul Nilsen lives and breathes women’s hoops. He’s is a freelance writer working for the sport’s world governing body FIBA where he pens a weekly ‘Women’s Basketball Worldwide Column’ - as well as providing daily content on major club competitions, international tournaments and the women’s youth game. He has an extensive network of contacts across the globe, including an array of elite play-callers and players. Also a qualified coach and referee, he is a big supporter of Blue Star Media and joined as a blogger during the fall of 2016.

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