Led by Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, the historically dominant U.S. women’s basketball team outshone Japan, 102-76, to win their opening pool match for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. team, famously undefeated in the Olympics since 1992, looked invincible again this time, taking a comfortable early lead despite some uncharacteristic shooting struggles.
In a rematch of the Tokyo Olympic finals on Monday, the U.S. basketball team defeated Japan 90-75 in the gold medal game behind Brittney Griner’s 30 points and A’ja Wilson’s 19 points.
Three years later, the size difference was still insurmountable for Japan, one of the smallest teams in the tournament. Team USA had four players taller than 6’2″: Alyssa Thomas (6’2″), A’ja Wilson (6’3″), Breanna Stewart (6’3″) and Brittney Griner (6’8″)). No member of Japan’s team was taller than 6’1″, which was evident as the U.S. frequently had multiple offensive opportunities and shot over smaller defenders.
Japan kept the game in the early stages with some solid three-point shooting, but the U.S. post player, one of the best in the history of women’s soccer, eventually turned the tide of the game and won in a landslide victory.
Five things to know about the U.S. Olympic opening round.
A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart were unstoppable
From the start of the game, Japan had no way to compete with the U.S.’s dynamic post players, Wilson and Stewart, who combined for 46 points and 21 rebounds.
Wilson, last year’s Finals MVP, got the momentum going with 10 points in the first quarter and finished with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting, 13 rebounds (six offensive) and four blocks.
Stewart finished with 22 points (11-for-15 from the field) along with eight rebounds and three assists and a game-high plus-minus of +30. The two-time MVP and two-time WNBA champion has been particularly effective in the frontcourt with Wilson, consistently taking advantage of mismatches and will likely look to capitalize on that for the remainder of the tournament.
Brittney Griner, returning to international action for the first time since a 10-month detention in Russia, came on strong off the bench, adding 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbing nine rebounds in 15 minutes.
The rebounding advantage was key in this matchup, as the U.S. outrebounded more than twice as many times as Japan, ultimately leading the rebounding lead 56-27, which helped the U.S. maintain their lead even when shots weren’t being made in the first half.
Monday wasn’t the first time the two teams’ size disparity was exploited: In the gold medal game in Tokyo, Griner, one of the world’s tallest players, exploded for 30 points against Japan to seal the win.
All 12 U.S. players played and contributed.
Team USA had all 12 players play at least six minutes and all score in a big win.
Diana Taurasi, Chelsea Gray, Napheesa Collier, Stewart and Wilson were all Olympic veterans in the starting lineup, while Kelsey Plum and Sabrina Ionescu each scored 11 points off the bench and Jackie Young added seven.
Chelsea Gray (Point Gaud) shines
She may be the best point guard in the world. Chelsea Gray missed the first 12 games of the season. WNBA She’s still recovering from a broken leg she suffered in the Finals this season, and the Aces have a 50% win rate without her, but since the 2021 Finals MVP returned to the lineup, Las Vegas has won 10 of their last 12 games and showed the world why on Monday against Japan.
Gray recorded 13 assists in just 20 minutes of play, 11 of which came in the first half, and he frequently set up Wilson or Stewart to cut to the basket.
It doesn’t help that three of her Olympic teammates — Jackie Young, A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum — were also Ace teammates who won three championships with her.
Passing in general was phenomenal in this game, as the U.S. recorded 35 assists on 42 field goal attempts and, similar to their exhibition matchup against Germany, frequently got open layups.
Three-pointers kept Japan in the game — at least early on.
Japan made nine 3-pointers in the first half and finished the game at 15-for-39 from three-point range. Mai Yamamoto (17 points) and Maki Takada (24 points) led Japan in scoring, while Saori Miyazaki came off the bench to add 12 points.
For much of the first half, Japan was able to keep the score to single digits thanks to strong shooting, which will be key in their continued progress in pool play.
Sabrina Ionescu shines late in the game
Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu was one of the final three players in the rotation along with Kalia Copper and Jackie Young, but quickly emerged when she got her chance.
She finished with 11 points, five assists and three rebounds in 19 minutes and was the only American to make at least one 3-point shot in the game (3-of-7 from the field).
next time
The win puts the United States in first place in Pool C.
1. USA (1 win, 0 losses, goal difference +26)
2. Germany (1-0; +14)
3. Belgium (0-1; -14)
4. Japan (0-1; -26)
The U.S. team will next face Belgium on Thursday, August 1 at 3:00 PM ET.
Belgium, Led by Emma MeasmanThe team lost in the quarterfinals at the last Olympics and lost their Olympic opener to Germany on Monday. Meesman was the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP and is expected to be one of the top players Team USA will face in Paris this summer.
The U.S. team will then face Germany again on Sunday, Aug. 4, at 11:15 a.m. The two nations met in an exhibition match last Tuesday, with the U.S. winning 84-57.
