A’ja Wilson recorded her third double-double in four games at the Paris 2024 Olympics as Team USA have advanced to the semifinals after blowing past Nigeria 88-74 on Wednesday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Wilson led the Americans (4-0) in scoring with 20 points and accumalated 10 rebounds in the victory. Jackie Young made her first Olympic start of her career and added 15 points while Breanna Stewart finished with 13.
Former ASU guard Promise Amukamara had herself a game despite Nigeria (2-2) being knocked out of the tournament, ending with a team-high 19 points. Amy Okonkwo tacked on 17 points and Ezinne Kalu capped off Nigeria’s Olympic run with 16.
USA dismantled Nigeria, heading to Olympic semis
For the first three quarters, the Americans disected and destroyed the Nigerians 76-48 before the United States went to its bench for the fourth quarter and Nigeria won the final frame 26-12.
The first quarter saw the U.S. go on two seperate runs, 8-2 and 9-0, to take an early 26-17 lead. After scoring 19 off the bench in Team USA’s last game vs. Germany, Young earned her first start of the tournament and got off to a quick start with five points. Phoenix Mercury and U.S. legend Diana Taurasi was taken out of the starting lineup and notched three points against Nigeria overall.
Turnovers were a concern early on for both teams with Nigeria giving the ball up seven times and the U.S. doing so five times in the initial frame.
Having a nearly identical encore in the second frame, the Las Vegas Aces trio of Young, Wilson and Kelsey Plum combined for 15 of the 26 points for Team USA, establishing their dominance over a Nigerian squad who did not have one player from the WNBA.
Kelsey Plum finds A'ja Wilson for the sweet wraparound dime ????
???????????????? Quarterfinals | #Paris2024
???? USA Network and Peacockpic.twitter.com/3fL92y8oWC— NBA (@NBA) August 7, 2024
Mercury center Brittney Griner checked into the game when called upon and grabbed 11 points, three rebounds, one assists, one block and a steal. Kahleah Copper had five points from 2-of-6 (33.3%) shooting and going 1-4 (25%) from three.
The Nigerians were having a difficult time trying to defend the star power that swarmed the United States’ roster while struggling to score. Amukamara, Kalu and Okonkwo scored 52 points for Nigeria, with the rest of the team only getting 22.
Team USA led by as much as 30 points and cruised to the win. Nigeria did cut the deficit in half courtesy of Okonkwo finding an open lane multiple times to score, but the U.S. was so far ahead that they coasted in the fourth quarter.
In a game where the 3-point shooting was not falling for either team, the Nigerian’s shot 6-for-25 (24.0%) from deep and the United States were 6-for-23 (26.1%). The Americans heavily imposed their will in the paint, heavily outrebounding Nigeria 44-28.
Next up for the U.S., they will clash against Australia (3-1) on Friday at 8:30 a.m. PT. The Opals beat Serbia 85-67 on Wednesday to advance.
Griner, Copper and Taurasi will not face Mercury teammate Rebecca Allen who suffered a high grade hamstring injury in an pre-Olympic exhibition against Canada and is ruled out for the Olympics.
on to the semis! ????????
???? USA Network & Peacock pic.twitter.com/sSMmekoQcQ
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) August 7, 2024
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers ASU Athletics, the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
