Essentially the most dominant girls’s basketball group on this planet hit the hardwood for the primary time on the 2024 Paris Summer season Olympics on Monday. However Crew USA dealt with its first problem with ease, defeating Japan 102-76 on the journey in direction of an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
The sport bought to a sluggish begin, with the U.S. struggling to get the ball into the online and Japan staying proper behind them on factors. However Crew USA was capable of widen the hole, taking a cushty lead within the third quarter and gaining full management of the sport by the fourth.
Japan depended closely on its three-point capturing to maintain up with the US all through the primary half, however Crew USA was capable of draw back within the third quarter. The U.S. struggled mightily from past the arc, going 4-for-19 in three-point capturing, however performed properly within the paint.
A’ja Wilson led the group in factors with 24, racking up 13 rebounds as properly. Breanna Stewart ended with 22 factors and eight rebounds of her personal, whereas “The Level God” Chelsea Grey ended with 13 assists.
With the win, the U.S. group extends its Olympic win streak to 56 video games, courting again to the 1992 Summer season Video games in Barcelona.
The USA continues its run with a sport towards Belgium on Thursday, adopted by Germany on Sunday to shut out the group stage.
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Crew USA defeats Japan 102-76
What began as a little bit of a problem developed into one other commanding United States efficiency, as Crew USA simply cruises to a win.
One other dominant efficiency for A’ja Wilson, who ends with 24 factors and 13 rebounds. Breanna Stewart had an enormous sport of her personal with 22 factors and eight rebounds.
Last: USA 102, Japan 76
Japan will get in yet another 3-pointer, but it surely does not matter; it is one other dominant win for the U.S., 102-76.
Japan is perhaps down by 30, however they’re nonetheless placing on a present: Mai Yamamoto sinks one other magnificent three-pointer to get Japan to 71 factors.
The USA hits 100 off a powerful dime from Ionescu to Kahleah Copper, who’s again in after seemingly injuring herself within the first half. Completely dominant stuff from Crew USA as they go up 100-68.
And one other three from Ionescu, who sinks it from the nook. She has three of the U.S.’s 4 three-pointers this sport.
The USA’ win is all however assured now, as a straightforward Breanna Stewart layup offers Crew USA a commanding 91-64 lead. That early strain from Japan has dissipated, and the U.S. is again in management, in dominant vogue.
Japan will get a wide-open layup to make the rating 86-64, and the U.S. takes a timeout. Nonetheless a cushty lead but it surely’s a superb likelihood to regroup.
Brittney Griner — who’s simply towering over the Japanese — manages to get a rebound and maintain onto it with one hand. Wild to see.
Lastly, a three-pointer for the U.S.! Sabrina Ionescu hits an enormous shot from past the arc to offer the US simply its second three-pointer this sport. It was a terrific possession general, touching the fingers of each participant on the court docket on its solution to Ionescu.
Japan’s three-point sport is staying sturdy, however the U.S. is widening the hole and is ready to preserve a few of Japan’s three-point makes an attempt from going into the online. With a stable 22-point lead on the finish of the third quarter (boosted by two free throws from Kelsey Plum simply earlier than the break), the group appears a bit extra relaxed on the bench.
79-57, United States, with one quarter left to play.
Nice reduce and shot from Sabrina Ionescu, off an help from Brittney Griner. Japan takes one other timeout because the U.S. stretches its lead, 69-49.
Japan sinks a 3 after getting three offensive rebounds in a row. Japan is not letting the heigh variations scare them; they are going for each shot and rebound, no holds barred.
Chelsea Grey will get one other wonderful help and will get it to Stewart for a layup. 56-39, United States.
Massive block from Wilson, and a rebound to offer the U.S. the ball, however they instantly flip it over. It is a good signal to see a few of that protection has returned.
The second half is now underway, and the U.S. is beginning on a superb foot, with an A’ja Wilson dime to Napheesa Collier, who hits the layup with ease.
With Crew USA’s three-point capturing trying tough right now, the 2 groups are taking near-opposite approaches to the sport. Japan’s focus is past the arc: Solely 5 of their 14 profitable pictures had been from contained in the paint. The U.S., in the meantime, solely has one profitable three-pointer, however has made up for it with jumpers, layups and — because of some Japan fouls — free throws.
The U.S. is 1-for-12 for three-point capturing within the first half, whereas Japan is 9-for-23. Total, although, Crew USA is 22-for-40 on capturing, whereas Japan is barely 14-for-39.
Nonetheless, it is a fairly high-scoring sport for either side — protection is perhaps one other factor that wants work for the second half.
Each groups additionally want to observe turnovers. The U.S. has seven and Japan has six, although the U.S. has scored 10 factors off Japan’s errors; Japan has solely scored 5 off the U.S.’s turnovers.
Crew USA 50, Japan 39 at halftime
Crew USA has an 11-point lead on the break, but it surely’s not a very comfy one. Nonetheless some work to do within the second half — particularly on capturing and turnovers.
A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have sturdy statlines for the half, with Wilson racking up 17 factors and 7 rebounds and Stewart getting 14 factors and 6 rebounds in simply the primary half.
Massive and-one from Wilson, who pushes via below the basket for a difficult layup. She sinks her free throw, however Japan’s Saori Miyazaki will get a largely uncontested layup to shut out the half.
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