The Olympics has a new Dream Team.

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, made an Olympic debut nothing short of spectacular Sunday, stunning the basketball world with a 90-79 victory over Puerto Rico, marking their first-ever Olympic win.

Their journey to Paris was a global hopscotch. War at home meant no safe place to practice. So they scattered.

Some found practice courts in Australia. Others in Egypt. A few in the U.S. They played where they could, when they could.

Earlier this month in an exhibition game, they nearly upset Team USA, the Goliaths among giants. They barely lost, 101-100. Don’t ask who I might quietly wish fortune upon should Fortuna deem a rematch.

Back home, South Sudan struggles with civil war, famine, poverty. The evils god and men do best.

But on the court, these players are heroes. Their stats show their potential. They are, to the last, folk tales in the telling.

But it’s the intangibles that matter most. The hope they’ve kindled. The pride they’ve inspired. South Sudan’s basketball journey mirrors its nationhood: young, resilient, and defiant as hell.

Kind of reminds me of a hellacious group of hockey kids who thought they could take on the Russians.

In its first bow onstage, South Sudan gave the Games what it most cherishes: A Cinderella tale.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​