A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Brittney Griner Propel U.S. to Victory in Olympic Opener

Americans aim for an unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal.

Dominant Performance in the Paint

A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Brittney Griner showcased their prowess, helping the U.S. women’s basketball team secure a 102-76 victory over Japan in their Olympic opener. Wilson led the charge with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocked shots.

“Points in the paint and controlling the boards are going to be huge for us moving forward,” Wilson stated. “So if we can continue that, I feel like we’re in good shape.”

Stewart contributed 22 points, extending the Americans’ Olympic winning streak to 56 games, a run that dates back to the 1992 Barcelona Games.

Chasing History

The U.S. team, which triumphed over Japan in the Tokyo Olympics final for their seventh straight gold medal, is now on the path to secure an eighth consecutive title.

“We played this team for a gold medal not too long ago. They play unorthodox, shoot a lot of threes, and are fast,” remarked Diana Taurasi, who aims to win an unprecedented sixth gold medal. “It was great to get this first win under our belt. A team like Japan is dangerous if you let them get going.”

Stewart echoed the sentiment: “Building trust on the fly is important. Now we know the tone and standard for each game.”

Japan’s Challenge and U.S. Response

Japan, significantly undersized against the U.S., used a high-energy approach, shooting 3-pointers off drives to stay competitive. The strategy worked for the first 17 minutes, with Japan trailing only 37-32 with 3:01 left in the first half. However, the U.S. closed the half strong, extending their lead with a 13-6 run.

“When it came to our strengths, it was our depth and height,” Wilson explained. “We tried to punish them in the paint and stayed focused on defense.”

The Americans sealed the game in the third quarter, with Chelsea Gray providing key assists to Wilson for easy baskets. Japan never recovered, despite Maki Takada’s 24 points and Mai Yamamoto’s 17.

Griner’s Triumphant Return

This game marked Brittney Griner’s first international appearance since her detainment in Russia in 2022. Griner, who scored 30 points in the 2021 gold medal game, contributed 11 points and nine rebounds, helping the U.S. dominate the boards with a 56-27 advantage.

Supporting Cast and Injury Scare

Sabrina Ionescu and Kelsey Plum each added 11 points for the U.S. The team had a moment of concern when Kahleah Copper collided with Japan’s Rui Machida and was down for a minute. Copper returned in the fourth quarter after being cleared by Coach Cheryl Reeve.

Global Basketball Highlights

Elsewhere in Olympic basketball, Nigeria achieved a surprise victory over Australia, marking only the second Olympic win for an African nation. Germany won its Olympic debut by defeating Belgium, while host France topped Canada before an enthusiastic home crowd.

The U.S. team is set to face Belgium next on Thursday, continuing their quest for Olympic glory.