The U.S. women’s basketball team kicked off their quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal with a dominant 102-76 victory over Japan in the opening round of group play. The team’s frontcourt duo of Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson combined for 46 points on an impressive 21-of-31 shooting performance, leading the way for Team USA. Additional contributions from Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, and Sabrina Ionescu, along with 13 assists from Chelsea Gray, helped secure the win.
Japan struggled to match up with the U.S. team’s size advantage, as evidenced by the Americans’ 56-27 rebounding edge, including 19 offensive boards. Wilson, Griner, and Stewart controlled the glass, outrebounding Japan on their own and showcasing the U.S.’ dominance in the paint. Despite Japan’s efforts to stay competitive, particularly with Maki Takada’s hot shooting off the bench and Mai Yamamoto’s 3-point prowess, the U.S. largely controlled the game from start to finish.
While the U.S. struggled from beyond the arc, shooting just 4 of 20 from 3-point range, their success inside the paint compensated for the lack of threes. The team shot an impressive 66.7% on 2-pointers, emphasizing their offensive strategy of exploiting their size advantage and dominating in the paint. Japan’s reliance on 3-point shooting, connecting on 15 of 38 attempts from deep, helped them stay within reach for parts of the game, but they ultimately could not overcome the U.S.’ interior dominance.
Overall, the U.S. women’s basketball team’s performance in their opening game demonstrated their strength and depth, with multiple players contributing to the win. While Japan put up a fight, their inability to match the U.S.’ size and rebounding prowess left them at a disadvantage. Moving forward in the tournament, the U.S. will look to continue capitalizing on their interior presence while also improving their outside shooting. With a strong start to their gold medal quest, the U.S. team is poised to maintain their dominance in women’s basketball on the global stage.
The U.S. women’s basketball team’s victory over Japan highlighted their balanced scoring attack, with key contributions from multiple players resulting in a convincing win. Stewart and Wilson’s stellar performances in the frontcourt set the tone for the team, while Griner, Plum, and Ionescu provided additional scoring and playmaking. Gray’s impressive assist total showcased the team’s ability to move the ball effectively and create scoring opportunities for their teammates.
Japan’s reliance on outside shooting, particularly from beyond the arc, kept them in the game for stretches but ultimately was not enough to overcome the U.S.’ interior dominance. The Americans’ success on the offensive glass, as well as their high shooting percentage on 2-point attempts, demonstrated their ability to execute their game plan and exploit their strengths against a smaller opponent. Looking ahead, the U.S. team will aim to build on this strong start and continue their pursuit of an eighth consecutive gold medal in women’s basketball.
