Team USA women’s basketball beats Germany at Paris Olympics

When enjoying the U.S. girls’s basketball staff, you must cope with its star energy, dimension and super offensive expertise.

However up to now in Paris, enjoying in opposition to this group of People has been extraordinarily uncomfortable due to their protection.

The worldwide sport is all the time far more bodily, and there is usually a little bit of a tradition shock for American groups after they enter that enjoying area. However this model of Crew USA has embraced it with each arms and used it as a weapon in opposition to its competitors.

The U.S. performed smothering and relentless bodily protection Sunday in opposition to a fairly robust Germany staff to win 87-68 in Lille, France, regardless of not having its greatest offensive sport.

That is 58 Olympic wins in a row and the No. 1 seed within the medal spherical, which begins Wednesday in Paris as Crew USA goes for its eighth consecutive gold medal. Subsequent up for the U.S. is Nigeria, the primary African staff to ever make it that far on the Olympics. The draw was introduced late Sunday night time.

Towards Germany, Jackie Young led the U.S. with 19 factors, with A’ja Wilson contributing 14 and Breanna Stewart 13. These offensive numbers are only for the report; they have been removed from the story of the sport.

Crew USA coach Cheryl Reeve has gotten her staff to completely purchase in to its skill to dictate the sport move with defensive vitality. Whether or not it was Kelsey Plum and Younger on the level of assault, Wilson and Stewart blowing up pick-and-rolls or Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas‘ energetic palms, the U.S. ran a clinic in staff defensive basketball.

“We’re not the USA dynasty with out it,” Reeve mentioned of the depth. “I believe it is what defines the dynasty is the depth of expertise that the USA has.”

Germany (2-1 in pool play) led after the primary quarter and was inside single digits a number of occasions early within the second half, because the People continued to battle from lengthy vary early within the sport.

With the starters struggling a bit, Reeve turned to the subsequent 5 gamers that included Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Brittney Griner, Thomas and Younger.

“I imply, I believe that is what makes our staff particular. We have now a number of lineups, a number of issues that we will do,” Thomas mentioned. “We did not have one of the best begin and did a line change and jump-started the sport.”

The U.S. had a margin for error due to an infinite string of steals, deflections and vitality. It harassed Germany right into a surprising 23 turnovers and generated 12 steals — with Younger grabbing 4 and Wilson three — that resulted in 28 fast-break factors. In its three pool play video games, Crew USA racked up 27 steals.

Germany shot 43%, and the People’ opponents are capturing simply 40% up to now in France.

Crew USA got here into the sport capturing simply 26% on 3-pointers within the Olympics and made simply three of its first 12 makes an attempt Sunday. However then the People began to heat up as they prolonged their lead, thanks largely to Younger, who made 5 3-pointers off the bench. Kahleah Copper made two extra from lengthy vary.

“The athleticism and the ability stage they’ll herald off the bench, I imply you are bringing Brittney Griner off the bench,” German coach Lisa Thomaidis mentioned. “I imply that is simply, that is simply one other stage. So yeah I imply they’re one of the best staff on this planet for a purpose. However it was an ideal sport for us. I believed we confirmed some good issues and flashes and another issues that we have to actually clear up and be higher.”

Satou Sabally, who performs for the WNBA’s Dallas Wings, led Germany with 15 factors. She entered Sunday’s motion because the second-leading scorer within the Olympics, averaging 25 factors per sport.

The opposite quarterfinal matchups are Spain in opposition to Belgium, France in opposition to Germany and Serbia dealing with Australia. The winners of Spain-Belgium and France-Germany will meet within the semifinals on Friday. The Nigeria-U.S. winner performs the Serbia-Australia victor.

The Related Press contributed to this report.