After a sluggish start to the Team USA women’s national team’s final game in group play against Germany, head coach Cheryl Reeves made a near-mass substitution as Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Alyssa Thomas, and Brittney Griner all checked in near the end of the opening quarter.
That line change was a microcosm of both the ability and the luxury that she and all of Team USA have. They ultimately handed Germany their first loss of the games with an 87-68 final.
With an embarrassment of riches at their disposal, they went from trailing by near double digits at the halfway point of the first quarter to cutting their lead to three going into the second where they ultimately caught fire and outscored their opponent 25-10.
Young and Her Impact Versus Germany
A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart were their usual dominant selves. Both combined for 27 points on 55 percent shooting from the floor. However, it was reserve guard Jackie Young who provided the hot hand on Sunday. She led Team USA with 19 points, four rebounds, four steals, and two assists.
Young converted on 5 of 8 from three-point range. Additionally, her ability to open up the floor offensively provided more matchup woes for Germany. The team was already undermanned in the post and continued to feel the USA’s effects throughout. They faced matchup problems when any two of the three, Stewart, Griner, and Wilson, shared the floor.
Group C finale? Aced it.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 4, 2024
The Vegas quartet combined for 39 pts vs Germany.
🇺🇸 #USABWNT x #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/wqDsRxQBxk
A stagnant start to a game midway through the Olympics isn’t what anyone wants to see from their squad. The ability of the U.S. to find another gear as they did in the second period is a prime example of what kind of danger and headache they provide to opposing defenses.
The USA went on an 18 to 2 run starting just under the eight-minute mark. It spanned seven and a half minutes of gameplay. Their defense as a whole pressured Germany into 23 turnovers overall. Also, they won the battle on the boards, 42 to 32.
Team USA and its Next Matchup in the Paris Olympics
Looking ahead, they will face what is arguably the Cinderella story of the games thus far in Nigeria. It became the first African basketball team to advance as far as the quarterfinals in Olympic history. recent 79-70 victory against Canada on Sunday.
On the floor, they’re led by Ezinne Kalu’s 19.3 points per game (PPG) followed by Promise Amukamara’s 10.3 ppg and 6.7 assists per contest.
Offensively, everyone knows what they’re going to get from Team USA. This is because anyone on their roster could go off for double digits in scoring. Yet, defensively, their quarterfinal matchup will be won as Nigeria comes into Wednesday’s game sitting in the middle of the competition with 69.3 ppg.
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