Ayrton Oneill
USA Basketball has an impressive Olympic record, with 25 gold medals, 2 silver, and 3 bronze. However, on a few occasions, they have fallen short, losing to other countries. In 2021, the USA men's team lost to France in their first group game, and in 2023, the USA men's team lost to Lithuania in the FIBA World Cup. Historically, some of their most notable defeats include the 1972 Olympic final against the Soviet Union, the 2004 Olympic semifinal against Argentina, and group stage losses to Puerto Rico in 2004 and Lithuania in 2012.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 3 September 2023 |
| Opponent | Lithuania |
| Score | 110-104 |
| Tournament | FIBA World Cup |
| Previous Losses | 10 |
| Notable Opponents | Puerto Rico, Argentina, Russia, France, Canada |
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What You'll Learn
USA men's basketball losses at the Olympics
The USA men's basketball team has a rich history of success in the Olympics, winning medals in all twenty Olympic tournaments they have entered, including seventeen golds. However, there have been some notable losses along the way.
In the 1988 Olympics, the USA came up short in a semifinal game against the Soviet Union, losing 82-76. This was the first time the USA men's basketball team had lost an Olympic game since NBA players were allowed to compete in 1992.
The 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, was a difficult tournament for the USA men's basketball team. They lost three games, the most they had ever lost in a single Olympics. Their opening game was a blowout loss to Puerto Rico, 92-73, which stands as the largest margin of defeat for the USA in Olympic history. They also lost a group stage game to Lithuania and the semifinal game to Argentina, eventually winning bronze.
In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the USA men's basketball team lost its Olympic opener to France, 83-76. This was their first Olympic loss since 2004. Despite this early setback, the USA went on to win the gold medal, defeating France again in the final by a score of 87-82.
The USA men's basketball team has also suffered losses in other international competitions, such as the FIBA World Championship. In 1998, they lost to Russia 66-64, and in 2002, they lost to Argentina 87-80 and Yugoslavia 81-78. In 2006, they lost to Greece in the semifinals, winning bronze. These losses, however, have been offset by numerous gold medal-winning performances, including the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics.
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USA women's basketball losses at the Olympics
The USA Women's Basketball Team is the most successful in international women's basketball, having won 10 out of the 12 Olympic tournaments they have entered. They have an impressive 78–3 record in Olympic play and have won eight consecutive Olympic gold medals.
However, the team has experienced a few losses over the years. The last time the USA Women's Basketball Team lost an Olympic game was in 1992, when they were defeated by the Unified Team (the fallen Soviet Union) in the semifinals. This loss ended their hopes of winning a gold medal, and they ultimately settled for bronze. This loss in 1992 was only the team's third-ever Olympic loss.
The USA Women's Basketball Team has not lost an Olympic game since 1992 and has won every Olympic gold medal since then. In 2024, the team faced a challenging road to their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal. They narrowly defeated France 67-66 in the final, extending their winning streak to 61 games.
The team's success in the 2024 Olympics was particularly noteworthy given the limited preparation time due to the overlap with the WNBA season. Several players, including Diana Taurasi and Breanna Stewart, commented on the unusual circumstances and the need to quickly adapt and switch gears during the Olympic break. Despite these challenges, the USA Women's Basketball Team maintained their dominance and added another gold medal to their impressive Olympic record.
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USA basketball loss to Lithuania in 2023
On September 3, 2023, the USA men's basketball team suffered a surprising loss to Lithuania in the FIBA World Cup. This loss, coming in the final game of group play, was the USA's first of the tournament and marked the third time they had fallen to the European team in international competition.
Lithuania came out strong in the first quarter, hitting six three-pointers and taking a commanding 31-12 lead. They maintained their momentum throughout the first half, with their strong defensive play and rebounding giving them a 54-37 lead at halftime. Team USA fought back in the second half, improving their defensive pressure and going on a 13-2 run to start the third quarter. Their efforts cut the lead to just six points entering the final frame. However, Lithuania responded to every USA run with a clutch basket and held their ground by making their free throws late in the game to secure the win. The final score was 110-104 in Lithuania's favour.
While the loss came as a shock to many, some have speculated that the USA may have lost intentionally to secure an easier path to the championship. With the loss, the USA would face Italy in the quarterfinals instead of potentially facing stronger teams like Serbia, Canada, or Slovenia. However, others argue that competitive teams always aim to win every game and that the USA's strong performance in the second half indicates they were not deliberately trying to lose.
Regardless of the intentions, the loss to Lithuania served as a wake-up call for the USA team, reminding them that they need to give their all to win against strong competitors. The USA still advanced to the quarterfinals, but their path to the finals became more challenging. The loss also impacted their seeding, as Lithuania secured the top seed in Group J, while the USA had to settle for a lower position in the bracket.
The USA's loss to Lithuania in 2023 adds another chapter to the intense basketball rivalry between the two nations. With this win, Lithuania continued to establish themselves as a formidable opponent and showed that they could rise to the occasion on the world stage.
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USA basketball loss to Canada in 2023
The USA men's basketball team, commonly known as Team USA, lost to Canada in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. This was the bronze medal game, with the winners set to take home bronze medals. The game was played on 10 September 2023, with Canada prevailing in an overtime thriller.
Team Canada's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks combined for 70 points to lead their team to victory. Mikal Bridges forced overtime by intentionally missing a free throw, grabbing his rebound, taking one dribble to the corner, and knocking down a fadeaway 3. Canada's victory earned them their first-ever medal in the World Cup and their first medal in a major international basketball competition since the 1936 Olympics.
Team USA's loss to Canada was not their only defeat in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. On 3 September 2023, they lost to Lithuania, with the European nation stunning Team USA and handing them their first loss in that year's tournament. This was Team USA's third loss to Lithuania, having previously lost to them in the 1998 World Championships and the 2004 Olympics.
The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup was a disappointing campaign for Team USA, who had to settle for fourth place. This prompted USA Basketball to initiate a long-term project to create better, more cohesive teams for future tournaments.
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USA basketball loss to France in 2020
The USA men's basketball team suffered a surprising loss to France in the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in 2021. This defeat ended a 25-game Olympic win streak for the USA, with a final score of 83-76 in France's favour. The game took place in Saitama, Japan, on July 25, 2021, and was a preliminary round game in Group A.
This loss was the USA's first to France in Olympic play, having won all six of their previous meetings. However, France had defeated the USA in the 2019 FIBA World Cup quarterfinals, marking the USA's first loss to France in men's basketball and eliminating them from medal contention. This earlier loss was on the minds of Team USA, who were seeking revenge and had been preparing specifically for France.
Despite having a full, healthy roster, Team USA struggled with chemistry and cohesion due to constant roster changes and a lack of practice time together. The FIBA rules also promoted a more team-oriented style of play, which some commentators attributed to the loss, along with the USA's lack of proper defence and issues with fouls. France, meanwhile, was seeking its first Olympic gold medal in basketball, having previously won silver twice.
The game itself featured notable performances from France's Evan Fournier, who scored a game-high 22 points, and Rudy Gobert, who dominated defensively. For the USA, Kevin Durant faced foul trouble early, impacting his performance. Ultimately, France's victory over the USA in the 2020 Summer Olympics was a significant upset and a wake-up call for the USA men's basketball team.
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Frequently asked questions
The USA men's basketball team has lost to Russia, Puerto Rico, Lithuania, Argentina, France, and the Soviet Union at the Olympics.
The USA men's basketball team has never lost to Spain at the Olympics, although they did lose to them in the 2008 gold-medal game at the Beijing Games.
The USA women's basketball team has never lost to Australia at the Olympics, defeating them in the Olympic final in 2008, 2012, and 2016.
The USA men's basketball team most recently lost to Canada in the 2023 World Cup bronze-medal game.
