Paris, France (Sept. 8, 2024) — The United States knew what it needed to do ahead of its gold medal matchup with the defending gold medalist Netherlands.

“We need to stop Mariska and Bo; they are their main shooters and main threats, and let the other people prove they can carry the team instead of those two,” said team captain Becca Murray after the USA’s semifinal win over China.

The star duo of Bo Kramer and Mariska Beijer, unfortunately for the United States, could not be stopped, combing for 45 of Holland’s 63 points in a 14-point win.

After a 20-point performance against China in the semifinals, Rose Hollermann came out of the gate with her hot hand still intact. The fourth time Paralympian started the game with eight straight points for the United States, all on long jumpers.

The U.S. capitalized on her hot shooting by working the ball from side to side on the perimeter and using cross-court passes to get the ball to Hollerman with space to shoot. While she couldn’t miss, the opposite was true for the Dutch.

The Netherlands, who were coming off a semifinal performance where it hit 50% of its shots, didn’t hit its first field goal until more than six minutes into the game. The U.S. couldn’t capitalize completely, and after starting up 8-1, exited the first ten minutes up by just four points.

By the second quarter, the Dutch shook off the cobwebs and started using its biggest physical advantage, size. Mariska Beijer, who is nearly a head taller than any U.S. player, had 9 points, including back-to-back buckets, on an and-one that cut the USA’s lead to just one point.

“I think we came out right away with a lot of fire, but we couldn’t maintain it. They’re a great team, so they’re also going to take punches at us. When that happened, we didn’t adjust very well and keep our energy high,” remarked Hollermann.

The USA’s counter once again involved working around the perimeter and finding the scolding hand; this time it was Lindsay Zurbrugg. The second time Paralympian hit her first three jumpers and four in the quarter to help keep the USA afloat.

After a tough bucket inside by Rose Hollerman off some quick passing cut the USA deficit to just one point, the Dutch called a timeout. It was here where Holland started to distance itself.

Off the break, the Netherlands went on a 6-0 run in the half’s last three minutes, all on buckets in the paint. Holland also exerted its physical dominance on defense, causing a slew of offensive miscues by the U.S. on the way to a seven-point halftime advantage.

The deficit was a scary sight for the U.S., mostly because only one of the Netherlands’ star duo had started to dominate.

That changed in the third quarter. Kramer, who had just one field goal in the first half, joined in on the fun with co-star Beijer. Kramer had 12 points in the third frame, getting to her spots near the basket with little resistance.

“We came out in the third and started really well,” said Hollermann. “But defensively, we just couldn’t stop chairs; we needed to keep them out of the key, and that is something we couldn’t do today.”

Natalie Schneider, who has called these games her last after two prior retirements and comebacks, did her best to help the USA weather the storm.

She went shot for shot with Kramer and Beijer early in the third, converting on all three of her field goal attempts and helping the U.S. whittle down the deficit to just five points halfway through the frame.

For the second quarter in a row, the U.S. couldn’t stave off a Dutch run to end a period. Using her size and passing chops, Kramer was involved in every bucket of an 8-2 run by Holland, bringing the lead up to double digits heading into the final frame.

“We knew that they had two main players, and in the first half I thought we did a really good job of matching up our height with them,” said USA Head Coach Christina Schwab. “They counteracted us, and that’s the way that games go.”

With the Dutch up ten, three minutes into the fourth. A Josie Aslaskon foul on Kramer was called unsportsmanlike, sending the star to the line and ensuring possession for the Dutch after two foul shots.

Kramer sank both, and on the following inbound got free at the top of the arc; she received a pass and immediately hucked up a three. The only three attempted by the Dutch was the dagger. After that shot fell through the nylon, the U.S. would never get back within 10 points of the champs.

While silver wasn’t the ultimate goal, it was an improvement from a bronze finish in Tokyo. The United States feels that the best is yet to come.

“For us as a team, I don’t really feel like we peaked. I think we have a lot left in our tank. I never felt like we got into that flow state as a team, so I’m really proud that it finished with the silver medal,” said Hollermann.