USA Wins Thriller over Belgium to Open Olympic Qualifying

08 February 2024

USA 81, Belgium 79

The USA Basketball Women’s National Team started its 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament in buzzer-beating fashion, defeating Belgium 81-79.

View the USA-Belgium box score here.

Today’s matchup was the sixth all-time between USA Basketball and Belgium, including the third at the senior level. The USA is now 6-0 against the Belgians. The last meeting of the senior teams came in the opening game of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup with the United States taking the 87-72 decision in Sydney.

The Americans will face Nigeria on Friday at 12:15 p.m. ET live on Courtside 1891. The U.S. has a 4-0 series advantage, most recently recording an 81-72 win at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Though the United States qualified for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games following the gold medal finish at the 2022 World Cup, the USA participates in the quadrennial qualifying tournament. Three additional Olympic Qualifying Tournaments are taking place concurrently in Brazil, China and Hungary. The United States, as reigning World champions, and France, as Olympic hosts, are qualified while the top three teams at each qualifying tournament, including the USA and France, will qualify for the Olympics. For more information, click here.

TEAM NOTES

See It to Believe it: Belgium had a fast start, scoring 17 points by the 3:05 mark of the first quarter to build a 17-9 lead on the U.S. From there, the Americans held the opposition scoreless until the end of the period but could not overtake the Belgians.

The contest’s only tie came 32-32 at the 3:43 mark of the second period ... nuntil the USA opened the fourth quarter on an 11-2 run, through 7:39 of the period, to knot the game at 68. The game got more interesting as Belgium broke that tie and the three that followed in their favor. The final tie, 79-79, occurred with 3 seconds left with the USA in possession of the ball. Kelsey Plum missed a floater before Breanna Stewart tipped the ball off the miss to give the USA their first and only lead of the game as time expired.

Let’s Get it Started: Tonight’s starters were Jewell Loyd, Diana Taurasi, Stewart, Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas. The U.S. used five players off the bench including Ariel Atkins, Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, Plum and Jackie Young.

Free Throw and Go: While the U.S. did not have solid offensive rhythm, shooting 41.2% from the field (25-60 FG, 4-19 3FG), they were strong from the free throw line, hitting 27-of-31 shots from the stripe.

PLAYER NOTES

Phee-Nomenal: Off the bench, Collier recorded a game-high 23 points (8-13 FG, 1-3 3FG, 6-8 FT) to go with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in 25 minutes. In 5:03 in the first quarter, Collier provided a spark with 7 points and 3 rebounds. In 13 previous senior-level games on a USA Basketball roster, Collier averaged 3.8 points.

Thomas & Friends: Thoms was one of two Americans to score in double-digits, joined by Collier. She went on to finish the game with 14 points and added 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 28 minutes. The USA combined for 13 steals in the game, helping them to 32 points off turnovers.