The most dominant women's basketball team in the world hit the hardwood for the first time at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on Monday. But Team USA handled its first challenge with ease, defeating Japan 102-76 on the journey towards an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
The game got to a slow start, with the U.S. struggling to get the ball into the net and Japan staying right behind them on points. But Team USA was able to widen the gap, taking a comfortable lead in the third quarter and gaining full control of the game by the fourth.
Japan depended heavily on its three-point shooting to keep up with the United States throughout the first half, but Team USA was able to pull away in the third quarter. The U.S. struggled mightily from beyond the arc, going 4-for-19 in three-point shooting, but played well in the paint.
A'ja Wilson led the team in points with 24, racking up 13 rebounds as well. Breanna Stewart ended with 22 points and eight rebounds of her own, while "The Point God" Chelsea Gray ended with 13 assists.
With the win, the U.S. team extends its Olympic win streak to 56 games, dating back to the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona.
The United States continues its run with a game against Belgium on Thursday, followed by Germany on Sunday to close out the group stage.
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Kari Anderson
Team USA defeats Japan 102-76
What started as a bit of a challenge evolved into another commanding United States performance, as Team USA easily cruises to a win.
Another dominant performance for A'ja Wilson, who ends with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Breanna Stewart had a big game of her own with 22 points and eight rebounds.
A’ja Wilson is making a STATEMENT in her first #ParisOlympics game. 😤
Japan gets in one more 3-pointer, but it doesn't matter; it's another dominant win for the U.S., 102-76.
Kari Anderson
Japan might be down by 30, but they're still putting on a show: Mai Yamamoto sinks another magnificent three-pointer to get Japan to 71 points.
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The United States hits 100 off an impressive dime from Ionescu to Kahleah Copper, who is back in after seemingly injuring herself in the first half. Absolutely dominant stuff from Team USA as they go up 100-68.
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And another three from Ionescu, who sinks it from the corner. She has three of the U.S.'s four three-pointers this game.
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The United States' win is all but guaranteed now, as an easy Breanna Stewart layup gives Team USA a commanding 91-64 lead. That early pressure from Japan has dissipated, and the U.S. is back in control, in dominant fashion.
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Japan gets a wide-open layup to make the score 86-64, and the U.S. takes a timeout. Still a comfortable lead but it's a good chance to regroup.
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Brittney Griner — who is just towering over the Japanese — manages to get a rebound and hold onto it with one hand. Wild to see.
Kari Anderson
Finally, a three-pointer for the U.S.! Sabrina Ionescu hits a huge shot from beyond the arc to give the United States just its second three-pointer this game. It was a great possession overall, touching the hands of every player on the court on its way to Ionescu.
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Japan's three-point game is staying strong, but the U.S. is widening the gap and is able to keep some of Japan's three-point attempts from going into the net. With a solid 22-point lead at the end of the third quarter (boosted by two free throws from Kelsey Plum just before the break), the team looks a bit more relaxed on the bench.
79-57, United States, with one quarter left to play.
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Great cut and shot from Sabrina Ionescu, off an assist from Brittney Griner. Japan takes another timeout as the U.S. stretches its lead, 69-49.
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Japan sinks a three after getting three offensive rebounds in a row. Japan isn't letting the heigh differences scare them; they're going for every shot and rebound, no holds barred.
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Chelsea Gray gets another excellent assist and gets it to Stewart for a layup. 56-39, United States.
Big block from Wilson, and a rebound to give the U.S. the ball, but they immediately turn it over. It's a good sign to see some of that defense has returned.
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The second half is now underway, and the U.S. is starting on a good foot, with an A'ja Wilson dime to Napheesa Collier, who hits the layup with ease.
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With Team USA's three-point shooting looking rough today, the two teams are taking near-opposite approaches to the game. Japan's focus is beyond the arc: Only five of their 14 successful shots were from inside the paint. The U.S., meanwhile, only has one successful three-pointer, but has made up for it with jumpers, layups and — thanks to some Japan fouls — free throws.
Kari Anderson
The U.S. is 1-for-12 for three-point shooting in the first half, whereas Japan is 9-for-23. Overall, though, Team USA is 22-for-40 on shooting, while Japan is only 14-for-39.
Still, it's a pretty high-scoring game for both sides — defense might be another thing that needs work for the second half.
Both teams also need to watch turnovers. The U.S. has seven and Japan has six, though the U.S. has scored 10 points off Japan's mistakes; Japan has only scored five off the U.S.'s turnovers.
Kari Anderson
Team USA 50, Japan 39 at halftime
Team USA has an 11-point lead at the break, but it's not a particularly comfortable one. Still some work to do in the second half — especially on shooting and turnovers.
A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have strong statlines for the half, with Wilson racking up 17 points and seven rebounds and Stewart getting 14 points and six rebounds in just the first half.
A'ja (17 pts, 7 reb) & Stewie (14 pts, 6 reb) dominate the first half in Lille!
Big and-one from Wilson, who pushes through under the basket for a tricky layup. She sinks her free throw, but Japan's Saori Miyazaki gets a largely uncontested layup to close out the half.
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 29, 2024
Kari Anderson
Just under a minuet left in the half, and Japan takes a timeout. The U.S. is currently up 47-35, but Japan is right up behind them, taking advantage of three-point shots to stay in the game.
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Japan gets within five points with a jumper from Saori Miyazaki. It's a little close for comfort, but things are looking up: a great sequence with a Jackie Young steal, Sabrina Ionescu dime and Breanna Stewart layup brings it to 42-32.
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Wilson draws a foul after going for the layup so ferociously that her headband goes flying. She wants the foul, and she gets it, but misses one of the two free throws.
Unfortunately, Japan follows it up with another huge three from Mai Takada. 37-30, U.S.
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Kahleah Copper is down, who only just subbed in, is down. It's unclear what happened, but she's now on the bench, holding her right hip and wearing a brace on her lower back.
Kari Anderson
Japan's three-point shooting, meanwhile, is thriving. Rui Machida hits a beautiful three; Japan is now 6/17 from beyond the arc.
Kari Anderson
That's more like it! With their shooting faltering, the U.S. is finding more success with fast break points, after back-to-back layups from Brittney Griner and Breanna Stewart forcing Japan to take a timeout. 30-18 USA.
Kari Anderson
With the second quarter underway, Team USA's three-point shooting issues are ongoing: Two straight misses from Kelsey Plum and Jewell Loyd don't inspire much confidence.
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Team USA 22, Japan 15 after the first quarter
The U.S. holds the lead at the end of the first quarter, but it's not quite the dominant performance they might've been hoping for so far.
It's been a bit tough shooting-wise for Team USA: They're only 1/7 on three-point shooting, and 10/21 shooting overall. Turnovers have also been an issue for both teams, with five turnovers for the U.S. and four for Japan. Definitely some things to work on in the second frame.
Kari Anderson
A'ja Wilson gets a great pass, but can't get the ball into the basket as it bounces out twice. After some persistence, she's able to make the shot.
Kari Anderson
Huge three-pointer from Japan's Mai Yamamoto. The U.S. certainly has a size advantage in this game: Yamamoto is just 5'5", and the tallest member of the team is 6'1". Team USA, meanwhile, only has four players under 6-foot.
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A great steal from Chelsea Gray, who gives it to A'ja Wilson for a mid-range shot. A strong assist from Diana Taurasi to Wilson gives the U.S. a 10-4 lead. After a slow start, the U.S. is finally starting to build up some steam on offense.
Kari Anderson
Some turnovers on both sides have made things unexpectedly close and low-scoring to start. It's currently 4-4 after three minutes.
Kari Anderson
Team USA takes on Japan in Paris
And we're off! The United States with a pair of easy points from A'ja Wilson, who won the jump ball for Team USA.
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Japan's starting lineup
Japan will start off with guards Saori Miyazaki and Mai Yamamoto, forwards Saki Hayashi, Stephanie Mawuli and Evelyn Mawuli.
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As if eight straight gold medals isn't impressive enough, the U.S. is also 72-3 all-time at the Olympic games. The team's last Olympic loss was in 1992.
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Team USA drops its starting lineup
Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Napheesa Collier are starting off for the United States.
Today's game is a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 final, where the United States defeated Japan 90-75 to take the gold medal. Though the U.S. took a relatively easy win, Japan put up a good fight, and are likely to be tough to tackle today as well. This Japanese team keeps the tempo up and plays well from beyond the arc.
Team USA takes on Japan to start quest for an eighth-straight medal
The United States, the defending Olympic gold medalists in women's basketball, will hope to keep their golden streak alive this games. That all starts today, with the first group stage game against Japan.
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