In a thrilling encounter at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille on Thursday, 1 August, Team USA showcased their dominance with a convincing 87-74 victory over Belgium in the women’s basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Breanna Stewart was the standout performer for the USA, delivering an impressive performance with 26 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks. Despite the challenge posed by a spirited Belgian side, Stewart’s play was pivotal in securing the win. Her chemistry with teammates Jewell Loyd and Sabrina Ionescu, both of whom she has played with in the WNBA, was evident throughout the game.
The Americans controlled the game with a commanding presence in the paint, out-rebounding Belgium 48-28 and scoring 42 points compared to Belgium’s 28. They also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 13 points to Belgium’s 9. Stewart emphasized the strategy behind their success: “We wanted to control the points in the paint. We knew we had the size advantage and were focused on securing multiple possessions while limiting theirs,” she told NBC after the game.
A’ja Wilson also played a crucial role, contributing 23 points and 13 rebounds to earn her second consecutive double-double at the Olympics.
Belgium, despite a stronger performance than their previous loss to Germany, could not keep up with Team USA. Emma Meesseman led the Belgian effort with 24 points, supported by Julie Vanloo’s 11 points and Antonia Delaere’s 16, including four three-pointers.
With this defeat, Belgium stands at 0-2 in Group C. Germany’s earlier victory over Japan means both the USA and Germany have secured their spots in the quarterfinals. Belgium must now win their final group game against Japan on Sunday and hope for a favorable score differential to advance.
Team USA will face Germany in their final Group C match, which, while not affecting their progression, will serve as a crucial test ahead of the knockout stages.
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