Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
It was a well-balanced attack for Team USA, which secured its 58th consecutive Olympic victory in the last game of pool play. Jackie Young led the way with 19 points, A’ja Wilson added 14, and Breanna Stewart finished with 13.
It appeared likely that an Olympic team would finally give USA women’s basketball a close game when Germany led the U.S. by three points after the first quarter. But, just as they have the entire Olympics, Team USA quickly leveled up to another gear in order to rack up another blowout win.
The United State’s 87-68 defeat of Germany marked the USA Basketball’s 58th consecutive Olympic victory, and this time, it was the Las Vegas Aces’ Jackie Young who led the way, finishing with a game-high 19 points on 5 made three-pointers. Breanna Stewart (13 points) and A’ja Wilson (14 points) were their usual efficient selves, and nine American players scored at least 6 points.
Here’s what we learned from Sunday’s USA-Germany women’s basketball matchup:
Germany — led by Satou Sabally — is the real deal
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It’s hard to say a team looks good when they lose by 19 points, but just hanging in there against the this loaded U.S. squad is an accomplishment of its own. Germany led the U.S. 19-16 after the first quarter, and played with the pace and urgency of a legitimate medal contender. Leonie Fiebich was key in the opening quarter, scoring 8 points to help Germany take the early lead. But, Team USA responded to the deficit with 16-5 second quarter run, and built on that lead the rest of the way.
Injuries appear to be the biggest medal threat for Germany at the moment — forward Nyara Sabally missed her second consecutive game with a head injury, and Fiebich left this one early after suffering a shoulder injury in the third quarter after a run-in with Alyssa Thomas. Sabally and Fiebich, both rotation players for the New York Liberty, are two of Germany’s most impactful pieces, and their availability moving forward will significantly impact the team’s chances at a first-ever women’s basketball Olympic medal.
It’s hard to find an answer for Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson
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It’s another game, but it’s the same story: the front-court duo of Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson seems impossible to contain. Stewart and Wilson were quieter in this one than in the previous two pool play games, but each shot 6 of 11 from the field. They combined for 27 points, while also helping anchor USA’s stifling defense.
Jackie Young leads the way off the bench
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Jackie Young had her best game of the Olympics — she finished with 19 points, punctuated by a buzzer-beating three-point shot at the end of the third quarter that gave USA a 23-point lead.
Her 19 points were a game high, and her five three-pointers were the most by any U.S. women’s Olympic player in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Young, who won a gold medal with the 3×3 team in the Tokyo Olympics, appeared to be at the bottom of the rotation early on, but her strong play on both ends has made her a critical bench piece.
USA remains a well-balanced attack
As good as Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson have been, perhaps the most difficult aspect of matching up with Team USA is containing the talent and depth off the bench.
Young was the star in this one, but all 12 U.S. players played at least six minutes, and 9 scored at least 6 points. Kahleah Copper scored 9 points, Napheesa Collier 8, and Kelsey Plum, Sabrina Ionescu, and Alyssa Thomas each added 6 points. In total, USA outscored Germany’s bench 52-15, and first-time U.S. Olympic players combined for an astounding 46 points.
“We knew we had a lot of depth,” Thomas said on the NBC broadcast after the game. “We play against each other all year round in the W. Didn’t have the greatest start, but that’s the luxury we have with this team.”
Thomas drew two charges in the first quarter and has made her mark as a first-time Olympian at age 32.
“I grew up watching the Olympics,” she said when asked what this moment meant. “Now I’m here with the best athletes in the world — just trying to soak it all in.”
Here’s what’s next for Team USA
The U.S. women’s advanced to the quarterfinals, but seeding and schedule is not yet final. What we do know is that the women’s basketball quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday, August 7th, with games scheduled for 5am, 8:30am, 12pm, and 3:30pm ET. Serbia, Spain, France, Nigeria, USA, Germany, and Belgium have all qualified for the quarterfinals, with China and Australia in contention for the final spot.
The winners of the quarterfinal games will advance to the semifinals, which are slated for Friday, August 9th. The medal games will take place on Sunday, August 11th.
