The U.S. women’s basketball team continued their Olympic dominance, defeating Nigeria 88-74 in the quarterfinals of the Paris 2024 Olympics on August 7. This victory extended their remarkable Olympic winning streak to 59 games, a run that dates back to the 1992 Barcelona Games.A’ja Wilson once again emerged as the standout performer, recording her third double-double of the tournament with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Jackie Young, making her first Olympic start in place of veteran Diana Taurasi, contributed significantly with 15 points.The U.S. team’s superior size and strength in the paint proved to be the decisive factor, as they outrebounded Nigeria by a margin of 44-28. Despite Nigeria’s feisty play, led by Promise Amukamara’s 19 points, the Americans maintained control throughout the game, at one point leading by as much as 30 points.Team USA head coach Cheryl Reeve praised the team’s performance, particularly highlighting their defensive efforts. The victory sets up a semifinal clash with Australia on Friday, August 9, at 3 p.m. EDT (8:30 a.m. PT) in Paris.In other quarterfinal matches, Australia defeated Serbia 85-67, Belgium overcame Spain 79-66, and host nation France eliminated Germany with an 84-71 victory. The winners of the USA-Australia and Belgium-France semifinals will advance to the gold medal game on Sunday.As the U.S. team pursues an unprecedented eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal, they remain the clear favorites. However, they face a formidable challenge from Australia, who are seeking their first Olympic medal since 2012.
Key points
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- A’ja Wilson led with a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jackie Young contributed 15 points in her first Olympic start.
- Team USA will face Australia in the semifinals on Friday, August 9, as they pursue their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
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women’s basketball team defeated Nigeria 88-74 in the Olympic quarterfinals, extending their winning streak to 59 games.
Contradictionsđź‘ľThere is a minor discrepancy in the reported length of Team USA’s winning streak, with most sources citing 59 games, while one source mentions 49 games.
