USA Women Start Their Quest for Gold With a Win Against Japan

29 July 2024

USA 102, Japan 76

View the USA-Japan box score here.

The American Women made their 2024 Paris Games debut and opened up group play with a 102-76 win over Japan. The U.S. extended their record Olympic win streak to 56 games since 1996.

The USA start on their path to a record eighth-straight gold medal. The team has medaled in every Olympic Games that they have participated in, dating back to 1976, and have a 72-3 overall record.

Starting Out: On the floor to start tonight’s game were Chelsea Gray, Diana Taurasi, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson. The 5 are the same platoon who started in the USA’s exhibition win game against Germany on July 23.

Olympic Debuts: Five players made their 5-on-5 Olympic debuts tonight. Kahleah Copper, Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Alyssa Thomas all premiered in Lille. In Tokyo 2021, Plum and Young were members of the USA 3x3 Women’s National Team that took home gold.

Happy to Help: The USA assisted on 19 of 22 field goals in the first half, led by 11 helpers from Gray. The U.S. logged 35 assists on 42 makes from the floor on the night. The USA’s 35 assists are the third-most by a women’s team at the Olympics since 1980.

Of note, all 12 players played in tonight’s game. Ten of those 12 logged assists and everyone scored at least once.

Second Half Surge: The United States held a 5-point lead (37-32) with 2:42 remaining in the second quarter before finishing the first half on a 13-7 run. The third quarter saw the U.S. turn up the heat on defense as they outscored Japan 52-37 in the second half.

20 Years in the Making: Taurasi tipped off her record sixth Olympics tonight with 2 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist. She is the first six-time USA Basketball Olympian and, earlier this spring, became the first American player (man or woman) to have a senior national team career span 20 years.

Phenomenal Frontcourt: Wilson and Stewart, who have won four of the last six WNBA MVP awards, both showed MVP form in tonight’s matchup. Wilson started early, as she scored 8 of the USA’s first 10 points. She did not slow down either, leading the USA into halftime with 17 points. Stewart followed close behind with 14.

Wilson (24) and Stewart (20) finished with 44 combined points at the conclusion of the third quarter to become the first USA teammates since 2004 to each score 20+ in an Olympic game.

Wilson finished with a game-high 24 points (10-16 FG, 4-6 FT), a new career-high at the Olympics, to go along with team-best 13 rebounds (6 OR), 4 assists and 4 blocks in 26 minutes. Tonight was her third Olympic double-double. Stewart had a strong all-around performance as well with 22 points (11-15 FG), 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 26 minutes.

Point Gawd: Gray had 11 helpers in the first half, passing her Olympic career high of 8 in only two quarters. She ended up with 13 assists along with 2 points and 2 steals in 20 minutes.

It’s a 10: Outside of Wilson (24) and Stewart (22), Griner, Ionescu and Plum scored 11 apiece to reach double figures. Tonight was Griner’s seventh consecutive Olympic game with 10+ points.