Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images
Team USA defeated Nigeria 88-73, powered by A’ja Wilson (19 points), Jackie Young (15 points), and Breanna Stewart (13 points). The win marks their 59th consecutive Olympic victory, and sends the U.S. women to the semifinals.
For a moment there, it looked like Nigeria could pose a real challenge to Team USA. Ezinne Kalu, one of the breakout stars of the tournament, was seemingly hitting everything, and Nigeria was only down by five points midway through the second quarter.
But, the USA made a run to close the first half to take a 21-point lead heading into the second half. And just like that, Nigeria became the latest Olympic team to be on the wrong end of a blowout. They trailed by 20+ for most of the second half, before finishing the game on a 27-6 run.
Team USA was red-hot from the floor — shooting 62% from the field. The victory puts the program one step closer to its 8th consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Here’s what went down in the quarterfinals showdown between the U.S. and Nigeria.
Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson dominate (again)
The quarterfinals matchup between USA and Nigeria followed a similar script as many of Team USA’s games so far in these Olympics. For a while there, it seemed like Nigeria could hang around. Then, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart combined to form the unstoppable frontcourt duo they’ve been through the entirety of these games.
In this one, it was Wilson who led the way with 20 points on 9-11 shooting, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Stewart finished with 13 points (5-7 FG), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.
Team have had a tough time dealing with Wilson-Stewart duo all tournament, and Nigeria was no exception. It didn’t help that there isn’t a single player in Nigeria’s lineup taller than 6’ 2, while both American star post players are 6’ 4.
A’ja Wilson became the first American player since Candace Parker in 2012 to finish with at least three double-doubles in one Olympics. She’s currently the second-leading scorer in the tournament.
Jackie Young continues her strong play
Earlier in pool play, it appeared that Aces guard Jackie Young was one of the players at the bottom of the rotation. But Young — a defensive stalwart — had a breakthrough offensive game on Sunday against Germany, exploding for 19 points, and was inserted to the starting lineup in place of Diana Taurasi.
Young continued her offensive groove in this one, finishing with 15 points on 6-10 shooting, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists.
Next up, the U.S. women’s basketball team takes on Australia
The victory over Nigeria marks the USA’s 59th consecutive Olympic win in women’s basketball, a streak that remains unrivaled in professional sports. Next up, the U.S. will face Australia in the semifinals, slated for Friday at 3pm ET.
Australia defeated Serbia 85-67 in the quarterfinals, and has recovered well from a slow start in the tournament. Australia’s roster is inundated with WNBA talent, including Ezi Magbegor (Storm), Alanna Smith (Lynx), Stephanie Talbot (Sparks), Jade Melbourne (Mystics), Sami Whitcomb (Storm), and Kristy Wallace (Indiana). Whitcomb has been Australia’s leading scorer throughout the Olympics, averaging 14.8 points on 50% shooting, while Alanna Smith has averaged 12.3 points on 55.9% shooting. Magbegor, a WNBA defensive player of the year candidate, has anchored Australia’s defense.
