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The U.S. womens basketball team improved to 2-0 in Olympics group play with an 8774 victory over Belgium on Thursday. Team USA has already clinched a spot in the knockout round with one more matchup in Group C, facing Germany on Saturday with a chance to sweep the group.
Breanna Stewart scored 26 points (shooting 9-for-10 on free throws) with seven rebounds, followed by A’ja Wilsons 23 points, 13 rebounds and three steals to pace the U.S. However, the bench may have been the difference in the game with Team USA outscoring Belgium’s reserves, 3111. Alyssa Thomas and Jewell Loyd each scored eight points off the bench.
Breanna Stewart:⭐️ 26 points⭐️ 7 reboundsA’ja Wilson:⭐️ 23 points⭐️ 13 reboundsWNBA stars leading the way for Team USA pic.twitter.com/oRaabz5ih9
Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) August 1, 2024
However, Belgium gave the U.S. a tough game despite being 23.5-point underdogs. Early on, U.S. defenders were slow on rotations, leaving shooters like Julie Vanloo open for outside shots. That created spacing for Emma Meesseman, who led Belgium with 24 points.
Antonia Delaere hit some big shots late in the fourth quarter to keep Belgium close before turnovers clinched the game for Team USA. She finished with 16 points.
The U.S. might also look back at this game and feel that its mistakes helped Belgium stay in the game. Team USA committed 16 turnovers, seven of them by Wilson, often trying to make the difficult pass and sometimes misjudging Belgium’s height or ability to step into a passing lane.
However, the Americans’ increased defensive pressure eventually forced Belgium into key turnovers late, resulting in several fastbreak layups to pull away.
A’Ja Wilson is the best player in the world right now, but Breanna Stewart really isn’t far behind. She’s incredible and has been for over a decade. pic.twitter.com/deOc6G4nNu
Dylan (@CaptainDylanTV) August 1, 2024
Though Belgium seemingly matched up with the U.S. in height on the frontcourt, tenacity from Wilson, Stewart, Thomas and Napheesa Collier ultimately gave Team USA a significant advantage on the boards. The U.S. out-rebounded Belgium 4828 with 16 offensive rebounds.
USA faces Germany for its final game in group play. Tip-off is Saturday at 11:15 a.m. ET.
Here is how Thursday’s action progressed on Yahoo Sports’ live blog:
Belgium put up a fight, but couldn’t cut the deficit to single digits once USA build a double figures lead.
Team USA improves to 20 in Olympics group play with an 8774 victory. The U.S. has one more matchup in Group C, facing Germany in the quarterfinals on Saturday before moving to the knockout round of the tournament.
Sabrina Ionescu nails a 3 from the top of the arc to kill any last chance of Belgium getting close with four seconds left.
Antonia Delaere with her third 3-pointer of the fourth quarter to pull Belgium within 10, 8070
USA picking up its defensive pressure and Belgium has buckled. Two straight turnovers leads to two fast-break layups for Breanna Stewart and a 7561 lead, Team USA’s largest margin of the game.
Stewart has 24 points to lead the U.S.
After her two straight 3s, Antonia Delaere turned the ball over leading to a two-on-one fast break. A’ja Wilson scores to put USA back up by double figures.
Two straight 3-pointers by Antonia Delaere has cut USA’s lead to 6861
Belgium had a good defensive possession, stopping A’ja Wilson in the lane. But the ball worked its way around to Alyssa Thomas for a big 3-pointer to put USA up 6655.
The U.S. appeared to be taking control of the game in the second quarter, but Belgium came back strong in the third. Team USA’s turnovers and poor outside shooting are helping Belgium stay close as we go to the fourth.
Brittney Griner got an offensive rebound and missed the putback, but USA has a significant advantage on the boards. The U.S. is outrebounding Belgium, 4118, through three quarters.
Emma Meesseman hits a short jumper in the lane, giving her 20 points for Belgium.
Napheesa Collier has settled the game down for the U.S. She’s hit two consecutive jumpers a long 2 and a 3 to build USA’s lead back to 5847.
USA finally stops Belgium’s run with Napheesa Collier finding A’ja Wilson in the lane for a layup. USA 52, Belgium 46 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Belgium making a run, scoring the last six points to cut USA’s lead to 5046. The U.S. is still having difficulty taking care of the ball and turnovers have let Belgium right back in this game.
USA has 15 turnovers thus far.
Emma Meesseman scored four points in this run. She now has 18.
U.S. assistant coach Mike Thibault says the pro-Belgium crowd is “getting the juices going,” talking to NBC’s Kerith Burke at halftime.
Neither team is shooting well from the outside. Team USA is 22% (2-for-9), while Belgium is shooting 15% (2-for-13).
The United States outscored Belgium 2315 in the second quarter to take an eight-point lead into halftime.
Breanna Stewart leads Team USA with 15, followed by 10 from A’ja Wilson. Emma Meesseman has 12 for Belgium.
Bench play is the difference thus far. USA has 21 points from the reserves, led by Alyssa Thomas’ eight. Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka has four off Belgium’s bench, all on free throws.
Breanna Stewart was on her way to a perfect first half, but finally missed a 3-pointer.
She is 6-for-7 from the field, 1-for-2 on 3s and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line for 15 points.
Team USA’s depth is starting to wear Belgium down. The bench is making a big difference with Jewell Loyd scoring the last five points. Alyssa Thomas has eight, Brittney Griner with six.
The rest of the USA lineup is starting to pick it up. A’ja Wilson scored inside, followed by a 3-pointer from Jewell Loyd, pushing the U.S. to a 4029 lead with 4:46 remaining in the second quarter.
Emma Meesseman has taken over the scoring load for Belgium after Julie Vanloo gave USA problems in the first quarter. She now has 10 points midway through the second quarter.
USA is pulling away just a bit, building an 8-point lead, 3527. Alyssa Thomas providing a spark off the bench to give Breanna Stewart some scoring help.
Emma Meesseman hits a jumper from the corner as the U.S. is again slow on its defensive rotations, closing out on shooters.
Turnovers were a problem for Team USA in the first quarter with five. They had 12 total in their last game vs. Japan. That’s certainly helping Belgium stay competitive.
Team USA has a battle on their hands after the first quarter.
Breanna Stewart has 11, but hasn’t found offense from anyone else yet. Julie Vanloo leads Belgium with seven points, but they’re spreading the scoring load around more.
USA ties the game 2323 on the fast break with Alyssa Thomas finding Sabrina Ionescu on the wing for a layup.
Belgium takes a 2017 lead on the second consecutive 3-pointer from Julie Vanloo, who plays for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. USA has to look out there.
Julie Vanloo ties the score 1717 with a 3-pointer for Belgium as the crowd roars
Beautiful no-look pass from Chelsea Gray to Breanna Stewart for a 108 USA lead!
Chelsea Gray the assist magician pic.twitter.com/cXaCd1dIKS
Cassie Lastivka (@CoachCass_) August 1, 2024
Same starting five for #USABWNT vs Belgium. @USANetwork @peacock#Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/2xNuj9af9K
USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 1, 2024