Breanna Stewart scored 16 points, Jackie Young had 14 and Team USA are heading back to another gold medal game in an Olympics as they dismantled Australia 85-64 on Friday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!A’ja Wilson nearly reached her fourth double-double in five games, but just missed the mark with 10 points and eight rebounds for the United States (5-0). Phoenix Mercury star Kahleah Copper came into the game as a sub and pitched in with 11 points.
None of Australia’s starters scored in double digits as Isobel Borlase led the Opals with 11 points off the bench. Marianna Tolo and Tess Madgen also notched 10 bench points each for Australia who will compete in the bronze medal game after this result.
USA steamroll Australia, Opals’ offense leads to downfall
So far on this undefeated run by the Americans, there has been a similar trend of beginning a game with a close first quarter and getting into a groove from there on out and that is what happened once again vs. Australia.
Since starting in place of Diana Taurasi, Jackie Young has taken the opportunity and ran with it as she scored eight points in the first frame to set the tone and go on a 14-4 run at the beginning. Young started her first game of her Olympic career on Wednesday and collected 15 points vs. Nigeria after posting a 19-point performance off the bench this past Sunday against Germany.
Jackie Young as a starter in the Olympics:
14.5 PPG
3.5 APG
66.7% FGOnly A'ja Wilson has more PTS in this span. pic.twitter.com/0GnVMKjt3Q
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) August 9, 2024
Besides a 3-pointer from Magden, Cayla George and Jade Melbourne, Australia was pummeled by Team USA’s defensive pressure in the second quarter as they were limited to just 11 points before halftime. In contrast, eight different American players scored at least once in the frame, asserting their dominance over Australia on both ends of the court.
Without one of their star players in Mercury forward Rebecca Allen due to a high-grade hamstring injury, it was evident that Australia lacked her experience and skill throughout this game. Having a significant role she has had this season on Phoenix with Copper, Taurasi and Brittney Griner and going up against the best teams in the WNBA, missing a key player like Allen for the entirety of the Olympics has been a huge blow to the Opals roster.
The U.S. carried their elite defensive display over into the third quarter and forced Australia to run out of time and space to get premium chances at the basket. Team USA led 66-40 after three quarters and the Opals were only able to add 13 points on the board in the frame.
The Americans mustered 10 steals and five blocks, four of the blocks came from Wilson herself. Wilson’s Las Vegas Aces teammate Chelsea Gray was a magnet to the ball when it came to Australia having possession as she led Team USA in steals with three.
In the fourth quarter, the Australians were down by 30 at one point. They did cut the deficit to 21 and won the frame 24-19, but not nearly having enough offensive success earlier on in the game came back to bite them. The Opals shot 25-for-69 (36.2%) from the field and 7-for-29 (24.1%) from three.
For the fifth straight game, the United States outrebounded their opponent, grabbing 46 over the 34 by Australia.
The Americans’ resounding victory over Australia extended its three-decade-long winning streak to 60 games in a row. This streak began during the Barcelona 1992 Olympics.
All love @BasketballAus ????
???????? #USABWNT #Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/esieZtQ0Vx
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 9, 2024
Advancing to the finals for the chance at an eighth straight gold medal, the United States will take on the winner of Belgium-France on Sunday at 6:30 a.m. PT. The U.S. already cruised past Belgium 87-74 in their group-stage matchup on Aug. 1.
As for Australia, they will clash with the loser of the other semifinal for the bronze on Sunday at 2:30 a.m. PT.
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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
