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A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and USA Basketball take on Satou Sabally and Germany in the final pool play game of the Olympics tomorrow.
The U.S. women’s basketball team faces Germany in the final game of pool play tomorrow, August 4th at 11:15am. Both teams are 2-0 and have already clinched a spot in the women’s quarterfinals, but this game — and the point differential — will help determine seeding for the actual bracket play. The winner of the US-Germany game will take first in Group C, a group that also includes Japan and Belgium.
Here’s what you need to know about Sunday’s matchup.
This is Germany’s first Olympic game, and they’ve surpassed expectations so far
Germany’s women’s basketball team has never qualified for the Olympics before, but from watching them this week, you’d never guess. Germany started Olympic play with an upset win over Belgium, the 2023 EuroBasket champions who also nearly defeated the U.S.
Satou Sabally, who’s missed the entire WNBA season so far recovering from shoulder surgery, seems to be back to pre-injury form. She exploded for 33 points on 11-17 shooting in a 75-64 win over Japan on Friday, after scoring 17 points in her Olympic debut against Belgium.
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Her sister, the Liberty’s Nyara Sabally, was also effective against Belgium, scoring 16 points on 6-7 shooting. But, suffered a head injury in that one, and missed the subsequent match-up with Japan. Her status for Sunday’s game is uncertain.
Leonie Fiebich, a rookie forward on the Liberty, was also key for Germany — she began Olympic play with 16 points on 6-9 shooting against Belgium, and followed that up with a 6-point, 6-assist, 6-rebound outing against Japan.
Satou Bally and Leonie Fiebich, along with the rest of Team Germany, will have to be on their A-games if Germany stands a chance to upset USA.
The U.S. blew out Germany when the two teams competed in a pre-Olympic friendly
When the two teams faced off in exhibition play, the United States dominated, handily defeating Germany 84-57. Wilson led the way with 19 points and 14 rebounds in that one, and the U.S. led from start to finish. Satou Sabally struggled in her first game back from injury, shooting just 3-17 from the field. She’s been a lot better since that opening game, which could be a difference-maker in this one.
Three-point shooting was key in that one, as America hit 11 threes to Germany’s 6. In that one, Luisa Geiselsoder led the way for Germany with 15 points on 7-11 shooting. Germany will have to be more efficient from behind the arc to make this a competitive game.
Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson are already off to a historic start
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Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson — two of the most dominant players in women’s basketball — have formed a dominant frontcourt so far. Wilson is averaging 23.5 points and 13 rebounds through two games, while Stewart is averaging 24 points 7.4 rebounds. It’s the first time in history that two U.S. women have scored 20+ points in each of their first two Olympic basketball games.
Teammates have expressed that Wilson and Stewart have both been the team’s two leaders in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“They both lead by example,” Napheesa Collier said, per ESPN. “You can see how hard they work and their mentality which is really fun to see, just how dominant they are.”
While Team USA is 2-0, they trail France in overall point differential (Team USA is +39, France is +42). So, the outcome of Sunday’s game — and the exact potential differential — will have seeding implications. USA will go for 58 consecutive Olympic victories in this one.
The game tips off at 11:15am on Sunday, August 4th. Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, both the U.S. and Germany will compete in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, August 7th.
