[Goose]

I'll go one further and repeat what I said before--it would be good for USA basketball (in the long run) if they lost.  That really would provoke reform.  Trouble is, we could probably send our 10th best team and still win.

I am not so sure it would change anything for the better. The men's loss simply forced them to allow professional players on the team. It wasn't any more "fair", just more effective. The women already have professional players allowed. That "quick fix" isn't available. If anything, a loss will motivate a more "structured" player choice leading to an even more arbitrary system.

[Goose]

I'll go one further and repeat what I said before--it would be good for USA basketball (in the long run) if they lost.  That really would provoke reform.  Trouble is, we could probably send our 10th best team and still win.

I am not so sure it would change anything for the better. The men's loss simply forced them to allow professional players on the team. It wasn't any more "fair", just more effective. The women already have professional players allowed. That "quick fix" isn't available. If anything, a loss will motivate a more "structured" player choice leading to an even more arbitrary system.