LILLE (France) - USA showed why they are favorites to retain their cherished title after cruising their way past Japan 102-76 in their first outing at the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament 2024.
In a repeat of the Tokyo 2020 Final, it was again USA who prevailed, using their physical superiority to great effect to get the job done.
Turning point
Japan were hanging around when it was a five point game a few minutes before the interval, but USA put their foot on the gas. A 13-7 burst gave them a double-digit advantage and the platform to stroll to victory.
Game heroes
Take your pick. Chelsea Gray threatened to set a new USA Olympic assists record but just fell short after passing the rock 13 times.
The USA 'bigs' were such a handful for Japan, with A'ja Wilson largely unstoppable and posting a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds for a huge performance efficiency valuation of 33. Breanna Stewart chipped in with 22 points from 11 of 15 field goal shooting.
Stats don't lie
USA were rampant from two-point range and on the glass. They shot 67% and out-rebounded Japan by 56 to 27 to highlight their physical dominance in the encounter.
Bottom line
USA were too big, too talented, too deep and too experienced for any kind of slip up. Their ability to make the most of deep seals in transition made a difference and then when it was a half-court game, they were even more in control. They also gave Japan very little inside the paint and looked like champions elect once again.
Japan played like Japan usually do, shooting their triples and trying to score on the fast-break. They won't be happy with the loss, or the margin which may come into play if basket difference is required in Group C. But they will have to accept they just didn't have the required muscle to compete inside and could not find a solution. They will feel they have a greater chance against Belgium and Germany.
They said
"It was everything I could have dreamed of [Olympic debut] getting to play for this team. My family is here and I really couldn't have dreamt of it. I think we stayed locked in for the entirety of the game and understood what their strengths are. We are big in the post and we said at half-time we can't get bored of keep doing that and using that. " USA guard, Sabrina Ionescu "It was a tough game and I think we were nervous. We had some things to fix on the defense and we have to do this for the next two games." Japan forward, Stephanie Mawuli
Quick notes
- The USA have now extended their winning streak to 56 consecutive games in the Olympics, while 54 of those encounters ended with margins of more than 10 points.
- This is the 15th time that a team has scored 100+ points in a game at the Olympics in the 21st century – only three of those occasions were not by the USA. This is the fifth time that Japan have allowed 100+ points in a game at the Olympics, a joint-high amongst all teams in the history of the tournament (China also 5 times). - The USA dished out a total of 35 assists in tonight’s game, while since the start of the 1980 tournament only twice had a team tallied more: USA with 36ast v Senegal in 2016 and also USA with 40ast v China, also in 2016. - Japan made 15 shots from 3P territory in tonight’s game – this is the fourth time that Japan has scored as 15 or more 3-pointers in a single game at the Olympics, while only one other team has scored as many (Korea, 16 made 3s v Australia in 1988). - A’Ja Wilson ended tonight’s game with 24 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks – only one other player has had 24+ points, 12+ rebounds and 4+ blocks in a single game at the Olympics: Margo Dydek did it twice with Poland in 2000.
FIBA