The United States women’s national basketball team continues to go full steam ahead, extending their Olympic win streak to 59 and reaching the event’s semifinals for the 12th straight time. The USA has reached the Olympic semifinals in each of their appearances in the event and has a 78-3 overall record, last losing in the 1992 semis.
Nigeria, the first African squad to reach either the men’s or women’s side to reach the Olympics quarterfinals, were the American’s latest victims. The US started slowly but was their dominant self in the second and third periods, leading 74-44 before taking their foot off the gas. The Americans ended up with an 88-74 victory as they 54% from the field, including a scolding hot 70% from inside the arc.
World’s No. 1 Squad Rolls Into Another Olympic Semifinal, Spoiling An African Fairy Tale, Meanwhile Belgium Continues Historic Run
A’ja Wilson led the way for the US, which saw all 12 players score, including four in double figures. Wilson finished with 20 points on 9 of 11 shooting and grabbed 11 boards. It was her third double-double of this year’s Olympics and fifth since 2020—the most of any player during these past two Olympic events.
Breanna Stewart, who is second on the team in scoring at 18.0 points a game, reached double-figures for the fourth time in the tournament with 13 points on 5 of 7 shooting and 2 of 3 from deep. Jackie Young followed up her best game of the Olympics against Germany with a solid effort (15 points on 6 of 10 shooting), and Brittney Griner added 11 points.
“We’re feeling really good as we got a lot of great contributions from everyone,” Stewart said after the game. “We had to make sure that we came out with the right mindset and mentality. We knew how Nigeria played, and we had to be ready for the physicality. It’s amazing to play in front of different fans, whether it is here in Paris or in Lille at these Olympics. [The USA program] It’s the gold standard as we expect to go and win gold. We know that everything leading up to this was hugely important. We know that we carry a lot because of those who have played before us.”
Nigeria finishes the Olympics in eighth place with a 2-2 record and a -13 scoring margin. This was a massive improvement for the Nigerians, No. 12 in the FIBA World rankings. They went winless in three 2022 Tokoyo games with a -53-point differential. They earned victories over Australia and Canada and lost to France in the preliminary round.
Semifinals Set
The 2024 women’s basketball Olympics semifinals are set for Friday, August 9.
Team USA (4-0) will face Australia (3-1) in one of the semifinals. Australia, No. 3 in the World, is in the Olympic semifinals for the first time since 2012. The Australians defeated Serbia 84-67 behind Alanna Smith’s 22-point, 13-rebound, four assist and two-block performance.
In the other semifinal, Belgium will face hosts France. Belgium (2-2), who made their first Olympic appearance in 2020, upset previously undefeated Spain 79-66 to punch their first semifinal ticket.
Frontcourt duo Emma Meesseman and Kyara Linskens were dominant against Spain. They combined for 38 points, 17 rebounds, six assists, and six steals.
France (3-1), No. 9 in the World rankings, reached the semifinals for the fourth straight Olympics with an 84-71 victory over Germany. Meanwhile, Germany (2-2) finished seventh in its Olympic debut.
Other Notes
- Phoenix Mercury legend Diana Taurasi has not been excellent in this year’s Olympics and has been moved to the bench after starting the first two games. Still, Taurasi doled out four assists against Nigeria to become the sixth-ever women’s Olympian to record 100 assists and the first to total 300 points and 100 dimes.
- Alanna Smith is the fourth Australian player to score more than 20 points and 10 rebounds in an Olympic game.
- Washinton Mystics guard Jade Melbourne doubled her Olympic overall production with 18 points, four rebounds, and five assists against Serbia.
- With Belgium’s loss, Spain fell to 1-4 in the Olympic quarterfinals, the most QF loss of any team.
- Emma Meeseman’s performance against Spain marked her fourth game with at least 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists, the second most in Olympic history.
- France and former New York Liberty guard Marine Johannes scored 24 points and drained five 3-pointers against Germany, becoming the first French player to have made five triples in multiple Olympic games. Johannes also moved up to third in France’s history with 161 points.
