For a moment, it looked like Nigeria might pose a real threat to the U.S. team. Ezinne Kalou, one of the tournament’s breakout stars, seemed to be hitting it all, and Nigeria was within just five points midway through the second quarter.
But the U.S. stormed back at the end of the first half to lead by 21 points going into the second half, and Nigeria became the latest Olympic team to suffer a major defeat, trailing by 20 or more points for much of the second half before ultimately winning 27-6.
The U.S. team was in top form, shooting 62 percent from the field, and the win puts them one step closer to winning their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Here’s a look at the quarter-final match between the United States and Nigeria.
Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson win in a landslide (again)
The quarterfinal matchup between the United States and Nigeria played out similarly to many of the U.S.’s previous games at the Olympics: For a while, Nigeria looked to be holding its own, then A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart combined to form the unstoppable frontcourt duo they’d been showcasing throughout the tournament.
Wilson led the team with 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 11 rebounds, two assists and two blocks, while Stewart finished with 13 points (5-of-7 field goal attempts), five rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Teams have struggled with the Wilson-Stewart duo throughout the tournament, and Nigeria was no exception. The situation was made worse by the fact that no one in the Nigerian lineup was over 6’2″, while both of America’s star post players are 6’4″.
A’ja Wilson became the first American player to record at least three double-doubles at an Olympic Games since Candace Parker in 2012. She is currently the second-leading scorer in the tournament.
Jackie Young continues to play well
Early in pool play, ace guard Jackie Young appeared to be one of the fringe players in the rotation, but the defensive anchor had an impressive offensive performance, including a 19-point performance against Germany on Sunday, that earned her a place in the starting lineup in place of Diana Taurasi.
Young continued his offensive form in the game, finishing with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists on 6-of-10 shooting.
Next up, the U.S. women’s basketball team will face Australia.
The win over Nigeria marked the United States’ 59th consecutive Olympic victory in women’s basketball, a record unmatched in professional sports. The U.S. will next face Australia in the semifinals, scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
Australia bounced back impressively from a slow start to the tournament, defeating Serbia 85-67 in the quarterfinals. The Australian roster includes: WNBA Australia has a talented roster that includes Ezzi Magbegor (Storm), Alana Smith (Lynx), Stephanie Talbot (Sparks), Jade Melbourne (Mystics), Sami Whitcomb (Storm) and Christy Wallace (Indiana). Whitcomb has been Australia’s leading scorer throughout the Olympics, averaging 14.8 points and shooting 50 percent from the field, while Alana Smith has averaged 12.3 points and shot 55.9 percent from the field. Magbegor, a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate, has anchored Australia’s defense.
