Tag: Washington Huskies Basketball

Kelsey Plum earns second gold medal as USA outlasts France 67-66

Kelsey Plum won a second gold medal as Team USA won a record-setting eighth consecutive Olympic title on Sunday.

Kelsey Plum is officially a two-time gold medalist.

After leading the 3×3 basketball squad to the gold in Tokyo, Plum was elevated to the 5×5 squad for the Paris Olympics, alongside three of her Las Vegas Aces teammates.

Their quest for a record No. 8 straight gold medal culminated in a matchup with host country France on Sunday, just as the men’s squad did on Saturday.

Team USA ultimately prevailed 67-66 in a game much closer than anyone thought. The Americans trailed by as much as ten in the third quarter as France started the second half with a 10-0 run that was only ceased by a Plum three pointer that got the US back on track.

Plum came through again late in the game, hitting two crucial free throws with 12 seconds remaining to put the US up by four. Kahleah Copper sunk her free throws with five seconds left as well. A last second shot for France’s Gabby Williams banked through, but her foot was on the three-point line, leaving the hosts just short of an equalizer.

Washington’s all-time leader in points, Plum finished the gold medal game with 12 points and 4 assists off the bench. The US was led by A’ja Wilson, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds in another dominant performance. Copper also had 12 points off the bench.

Williams, a former member of the Seattle Storm, led France with 19 points and 7 rebounds. No other French player was in double figures, as the hosts shot just 31.5% from the field.

It was the second medal of the day for the Huskies, who also saw Sami Whitcomb win bronze with Australia earlier in the morning.

Kelsey Plum, Team USA advance to gold medal game

Kelsey Plum won the international battle of Washington Huskies on Friday, as Team USA beat Sami Whitcomb’s Australia squad in the Olympic semis.

Team USA’s women’s team will play for an eighth consecutive gold medal on Sunday.

The American women beat Australia 85-64 on Friday for consecutive win No. 60 in Olympic competition, extending their record. An eighth consecutive gold medal if the Americans beat host nation France on Sunday would break a tie with the American men for the most consecutive gold medals in basketball at the Olympics. The men won seven straight golds from 1936-68.

Washington’s all-time leading scorer Kelsey Plum had a quiet game off the bench for the Americans, scoring both of her points from the free throw line in 11 minutes. Plum also had an assist but turned the ball over three times, primarily playing once the game had already been decided.

Breanna Stewart led the USA in scoring with 16, adding 6 rebounds and 5 assists. A’ja Wilson added 10 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks, and Plum’s other Las Vegas Aces teammate Jackie Young chipped in another 14 points.

Washington was also represented on the Australian side with starter Sami Whitcomb, who went 2-for-9 from the field and 1-for-7 from three-point range as the Aussies tried to play catch-up. She finished with 5 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in 25 minutes.

Australia will face off with Belgium on Sunday for the bronze medal. If Whitcomb and company lead the Opals to a win in that game, the Huskies will clinch a school record with medal No. 13 at these games since Plum is guaranteed at least a silver. Washington’s rowing program racked up 11 medals during the regatta last week.

Australia and Belgium tip off at 2:30 am Pacific time on Sunday for the bronze, followed by the gold medal game between the US and France at 6:30 am Pacific time.

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Kelsey Plum chips in 11 points as US beats Japan to open Olympics

Kelsey Plum played a key role off the bench as Team USA secured a win over Japan in the women’s basketball Olympic tournament.

The American women have won the last seven Olympic gold medals in basketball, nearing an Olympic record.

The campaign for No. 8 began on Monday with a group game against Japan, marking the 5-on-5 debut of former Washington Huskies star Kelsey Plum at the Olympics. Plum won a gold medal with the 3×3 basketball team at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Coming off the bench for starting point guard Diana Taurasi, Plum played 14 minutes in a 102-76 win over the Japanese, the 56th Olympic game in a row that the Americans have won. Japan were the silver medalists in Tokyo, meaning they have now fallen victim to consecutive victories No. 55 and 56.

Plum had 11 points and 3 assists in her role off the bench, shooting 4 of 6 from the field, and was one of five Americans in double figures. Sabrina Ionescu and Brittney Griner also had 11 points off the bench. Team USA was led by A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who scored 24 and 22 points, respectively, in starting roles.

Japan was led by center Maki Takada, who scored 24 points on 10 of 11 shooting from the field, and sharpshooter Mai Yamamoto, who added 17 points with 5 threes. The Japanese launched nearly 40 three-point attempts, nearly double the 20 attempts from the Americans, who were only able to make 4 shots from deep on Monday.

The US has two group games remaining, returning on Thursday at noon against Belgium followed by a Sunday morning affair with Germany at 8:15 am Pacific time. The tournament continues from there with the gold medal game on Sunday, August 11 at 6:30 am Pacific.

Great Osobor can be a well-rounded star for the Washington Huskies

Great Osobor is going to bring a lot more than just an interior presence to the Huskies.

Coach Danny Sprinkle has built an exciting roster ahead of his first year at the helm with the Washington Huskies and it’s tied together by his biggest star, Great Osobor.

Sprinkle has been Osobor’s coach every step of the way, from their days together at Montana State, to last year at Utah State when Osobor won Mountain West Player of the Year.

Now, after utilizing the transfer portal, the forward from Bradenton, England will be the focal point of his head coach’s offense one more time and as he prepares for the NBA level, he will be asked to do a lot more than during his time at his previous stops.

“Great is tremendously skilled, he’s basically a point guard in a 6-foot-8, 250-pound body,” Sprinkle said on the Locked On Huskies podcast. “He’s really good at getting rebounds and pushing the ball up the floor, he can throw lobs, you can set ball screens for him and he can come make reads.”

“He’s got a tremendous IQ, he knows where everybody’s supposed to be like a quarterback or a point guard. That all lends to his versatility and it’s why he was a really hard guard in the Mountain West. He’s continuing to get better too, he’s beginning to shoot the basketball with a lot more confidence which will translate next year because he’s going to have to knock down a lot more threes in the Big Ten with its size and physicality.”

If Osobor can act as a point forward at times, he could make Sprinkle’s offense one of the best in the conference. His ability to push the ball up the floor should open up plenty of options for the Huskies.

“He can make the game a lot easier for KC [Ibekwe] and Franck [Kepnang], and even some of our young guards,” Sprinkle said. “He’s going to be able to take some of the ball handling responsibilities and decision making for those guys.”

Danny Sprinkle brings renewed energy to Washington basketball

The Washington Huskies have an exciting presence at the helm in Danny Sprinkle.

The Washington Huskies haven’t come anywhere close to the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and now, they not only have the talent on the roster to return to the Big Dance, but the coach to help them get there. Danny Sprinkle has proven to be a winner during his time at the helm with both Montana State and Utah State and has brought a lot more than just star forward Great Osobor with him to Montlake.

Sprinkle has revitalized the community around Husky basketball and it’s beginning to show on the court. In a recent social media video, he showed some of his personality at a practice, which should help him thrive in Seattle.

He has built an impressive roster and put a top-notch coaching staff around him that has the potential to be one of the best in the Big Ten this season, but Washington has had a lot of talent on the roster in recent years and struggled to be anything better than average.

With a lot of passion for Washington thanks to a deep-rooted family history on Montlake, Sprinkle has all the tools necessary to be successful with the Huskies, and a personality that could turn him into a local celebrity if he can continue his winning ways.

Five-star G Darryn Peterson names Washington to his top 6 schools

The Washington Huskies are among the finalists to secure the nation’s top-ranked guard.

The nation’s top-ranked guard, Darryn Peterson, has reduced his list of potential schools to six, and the Washington Huskies made the cut alongside Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, Ohio State, and USC.

The No. 3 ranked player in the 2025 class out of Huntington Prep in West Virginia is looking to take official visits to some of his finalists over the next few months and broke down what stands out about each school with On3’s Jamie Shaw.

“They’re another Adidas school and I’m an Adidas guy right now,” Peterson said. “So being able to go out there and see new stuff. You don’t have to go to the big schools now, you can get to the league from wherever you go.”

While Peterson is somewhat underrating Washington’s stature from a national perspective, the Huskies certainly lost some of their luster under Mike Hopkins. Danny Sprinkle has a big task on his hands to help rebuild the Huskies’ brand as they head into the Big Ten and if his coaching staff can find a way to secure Peterson’s commitment, that would be an extremely impressive acquisition for his first full recruiting class.

“There simply aren’t any other guards in the class of 2025 who combine Peterson’s power, athleticism and overall skill level,” 247Sports’ Eric Bossi said at the Adidas 3SSB event in April. “At times he operated as a true point guard who got paint touches and made plays for others. For other stretches, he took over scoring and got to any spot he wanted on the floor. Sometimes, he mixed a little of both. Bottom line he did whatever he wanted. His jumper can still be a little streaky, but it’s not exactly a worry moving forward.”

Peterson has yet to lock in an official date, but is set to take an official visit to Seattle in August or September before announcing his commitment.

Tina Langley hires two-time All-Pac-12 honoree Lauren Schwartz as assistant coach

Lauren Schwartz starred for the Washington Huskies on the court and now she’s moving into a coaching role with the team.

After transferring from Rice to Washington before the 2021 season, Lauren Schwartz has done nothing but score. The 5-foot-11 forward dropped 900 points over three seasons on Montlake and was named an All-Pac-12 honorable mention following both the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons and now, she’s scored an assistant coaching job on Tina Langley’s staff.

“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to become an assistant at the University of Washington,” Schwartz said in a statement. “From day one, I have believed in Coach Langley, her vision for this program, and the exceptional way she leads others. The University of Washington is a special place that holds a unique significance for me, and I am thrilled to continue being a part of this incredible journey. There is nowhere else I would rather be.”

Originally from Union, Kentucky, Schwartz looks like she could be a valuable piece of Langley’s staff thanks to her recent experience. She shot 40.4 percent from the floor over her Husky career, averaging 2.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game to go with 80 steals and 30 blocks.

“We’re so excited that Lauren will continue to be a part of this program as a mentor and role model,” Langley said. “Lauren has always demonstrated a heart for others, an incredible basketball mind, and a competitive drive towards excellence. She bleeds our culture; she embodies our values and lives out our standards daily. Her love for our young women and for this university runs deep.”

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Dominique Diomande can change everything for Washington

Washington’s latest acquisition, Dominique Diomande, brings a lot of changes to Washington’s roster.

Coach Danny Sprinkle had already put together a promising roster that should help Washington compete during their first season in the Big Ten. Then on July 3, the Huskies added wing Dominique Diomande to the team, who has spent the last three seasons playing professionally in France.

Diomande, who is projected as a top-50 selection in the NBA draft, averaged 16 points per game on 71.8 percent shooting from two-point range. His length, athleticism, and ability as a defender should make him a crucial piece of Sprinkle’s rotation and could help him crack the starting lineup.

Before Diomande’s addition, Washington’s projected starters had three guards flanking forward Great Osobor and center Franck Kepnang.

Now, Sprinkle has the ability to bring one of the trio of Zoom Diallo, DJ Davis, or Mekhi Mason off the bench and insert either Diomande or Tyler Harris into the starting lineup. Harris’ ability as a three-point shooter could give him the edge if that’s the route the former Utah State head coach chooses to pursue.

However, it doesn’t matter if either of them make the starting lineup or both end up coming off the bench, as the most important part of Diomande’s addition is the depth he brings to the roster. His athleticism and slashing ability should draw a lot of attention on the offensive end of the floor, while his length can allow him to guard all five positions.

The Huskies have a lot of experience on the roster and also added some high-upside youth that should create an exciting squad for Sprinkle to work with in his first season at the helm.

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Thybulle cut by Australia before Olympics in shocking move

A former Husky star will not participate in the Paris Olympics after being a surprise cut by team Australia.

There will be a slew of Huskies in Paris this summer when the Olympics get underway at the end of July, but former basketball star Matisse Thybulle won’t be among them.

On Friday, the Australian national team announced their final cuts, and coach Brian Goorjian shocked not just the Boomers, but the Australian basketball community by leaving the Portland Trailblazers guard off the roster. Thybulle played well for the Blazers last season, shooting 34.7 percent from three-point range and averaging 1.7 steals and 0.8 blocks per game.

“The exclusion of Matisse Thybulle from the Boomers team is staggering,” Jack Powell, a producer for Channel 7 in Melbourne said. “It’s incomprehensible that he misses out. Aussies deserve an explanation for this decision.”

Although littered with NBA talent, including former top-five pick Dante Exum and Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green, the Boomers lack an elite defender, which is Thybulle’s claim to fame. During his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, he was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team after both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

One of the country’s best basketball players, former No. 1 overall pick and All-NBA center Andrew Bogut, offered an explanation.

“Matisse is a real interesting one, he’s arguably the best defender on the squad,” Bogut said on the Gold Standard podcast. “One of the best in the NBA, I think the ups and downs of his shooting was a concern.”

Huskies and Cougars reach agreement to continue basketball Apple Cup

The Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars agreed to continue their basketball rivalry.

The storied Apple Cup rivalry is reportedly set to continue on the basketball court. According to Greg Woods of the Spokesman Review, the Washington Huskies and Washington State Cougars reached an agreement on Wednesday to play a home-and-home series over the next two seasons.

Woods’ report states that the two teams will play on December 18 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle and during the 2025-26 season in Pullman, where the Huskies have some deep ties. Not only did athletic director Pat Chun spend his last seven years at the helm of the Cougars program, but basketball coach Danny Sprinkle was born in Pullman.

“I’m not from Pullman,” Sprinkle said at his introductory press conference in March. “I was born in Pullman, that’s it. I know my dad is still pissed that I was born there, but it’s only because there was no hospital in Moscow, Idaho, while my dad was coaching at the University of Idaho.”

Sprinkle’s father, Bill, who played football at Washington in the 1960s, instilled a deep love for the Huskies in his son, and a hatred for the Cougars too. That should mean that on December 18, during Washington’s first season in the Big Ten, there will be no love lost between the two schools.