PARIS – The US women’s basketball team, led by Women’s National Basketball Association Two-time MVPs A’ja Wilson and Brianna Stewart face Nigeria in the quarterfinals at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Americans are seeking an eighth straight gold medal and have not lost a game at the Games since 1992. Diana Taurasi is also trying to become the first Olympic basketball player to win six titles. gold medals.
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With less than four minutes remaining in the first half, Cheryl Reeve made her first substitution of the game. Chelsea Gray, A’ja Wilson and Nafisa Collier were replaced by Sabrina Ionescu, Alyssa Thomas and Brittney Griner. Shortly after, Diana Taurasi came on for Jackie Young and Joelle Lloyd came on for Brianna Stewart.
Chelsea Gray showed off her amazing passing skills early in the game against Nigeria, passing to Brianna Stewart for the Americans’ second goal of the game, then passing to Stewart again for a hat-trick.
Rena Wakama is the head coach of the Nigeria women’s basketball team. She is an assistant coach for the Tulane women’s basketball team.
A’ja Wilson scored on the Americans’ first possession.
USA Women’s National Basketball Team Starting Lineup Today
Nafeesa Collier, A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, Brianna Stewart and Chelsea Gray are the starters for Team USA. This lineup is the Las Vegas Aces — literally. Although Diana Taurasi started every game in the group stage, coach Cheryl Reeve opted to start Jackie Young for the start of the medal rounds. That means three Aces players on this team are in the starting lineup with Young, Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson.
Our guess: Young has been assigned the task of marking Nigerian goalie Ezeni Kalu. Young is a strong defender — literally, she’s one of the toughest goalies in the WNBA — and has played well off the bench recently.
Judging by who attended the US women’s national team’s first game in Paris, there seems to be a lot of interest in this team.
LeBron James and his wife, Savannah, are sitting in the front row, as are men’s teammates Devin Booker and Bam Adebayo. Also here is Katie Ladecki, who last week tied Larissa Latynina for the most gold medals (nine) by an Olympian, and she received a big hug from James when he arrived. Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, is with his family and four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Allison Schmitt.
American basketball star Dirk Nowitzki stayed in the famous hall after watching the quarter-final match between Germany and France.
After warming up on the field around 2:30 p.m. ET, the Americans took to the field again just after 3 p.m. ET for their final warmup. They will begin their match against Nigeria at 3:30 p.m. ET.
The United States faces Nigeria in the quarterfinals today in Paris. USA Network will broadcast the match against Nigeria, and Peacock will broadcast the match live.
Below are the remaining competitions at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
- August 9: Semifinals, 11:30 a.m. ET/3 p.m. ET
- August 11: Bronze Medal Match 5:30 a.m. ET
- August 11: Gold Medal Game at 9:30 a.m. ET
Olympic Women’s Basketball Coach
Cheryl Reeve, head coach of the Women’s Basketball Association Minnesota LynxReeve will serve as the head coach of the 2024 U.S. Women’s National Team. Reeve and her staff previously led the U.S. Women’s National Team to a gold medal at the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Brittney Griner More Grateful Than Ever at Paris Olympics
Brittney Griner knows that the face she presents to the world is often a mask.
She knows that what she sees — the weird smile, the 6-foot-9 big kid who loves skateboarding and off-roading, the fearsome shot blocker on the basketball court — is only part of the truth.
To outsiders, Griner appears to have quickly moved past her 10-month detention in Russia, a terrifying, isolated period of time that would have shattered most people. When she poses for photos with fans, effortlessly posing for the 8-foot-tall man, it seems as if things are back to normal. But they aren’t, and she isn’t.
“It’s always with me, and there are definitely moments where I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this could be completely different — I could see this beautiful view through the bars,’” Griner said Saturday from USA practice. “It doesn’t go away. It makes you appreciate everything a little bit more, too.”
Brianna Stewart-Sabrina Ionesco Contact at the Olympic Games
When Brianna Stewart sprints down the field in transition, she knows Sabrina Ionescu is looking for her.
The two have played together for a long time – nearly 70 games together. New York Liberty Over two seasons, plus 17 games played together on Team USA, their knowledge of each other is practically indispensable. Ionescu knows where Stewart wants the ball. Stewart knows which passing path Ionescu prefers when she wants to send an assist to Stewart.
The obvious attraction between teammates like Stewart and Ionescu can’t be faked or developed overnight. It comes naturally, built through hundreds of practices with each other. And it gives the Americans a huge advantage as they seek an eighth straight gold medal in women’s basketball.
“It’s really helpful,” said U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve. “You can see when Sapp is running to the basket, she’s looking for Stewie. Her eyes are up, and she knows when Stewie is going to the basket. It’s natural to synergize with your teammates (in the WNBA).”
The US women’s basketball roster consists of eight WNBA champions, three MVPs, and five WNBA Rookies of the Year.
- guards: Kahlia Cooper, Chelsea Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Joel Lloyd, Kelsey Plum, Diana Taurasi, Jackie Young
- Attackers: Brianna Stewart, Alyssa Thomas, Aja Wilson, Nafeesa Collier
- center: Brittney Griner
Diana Turassi olympic gold medals
Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020) are the only two American basketball players to win five Olympic gold medals. Taurasi could become the first to win six gold medals in Paris.
Women’s basketball in the United States prediction Against Nigeria
Nigeria has been a great story in women’s basketball at the Olympics, but that ends tonight against a dynasty of American players. Ezeni Kalu has been great for Nigeria, but the defense by Chelsea Gray and company is a different beast. Team USA is expected to win 101-72.
A’ja Wilson’s Basketball Dominance Is Fueled by Joy
A’ja Wilson will continue to score in double figures, push the boundaries of what a forward can do in this game, and if all goes according to plan, lead the U.S. women’s basketball team to a record-breaking eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal at the 2024 Paris Games. Maybe the crowning of the latest American dynasty, led by an exceptional talent, will keep you watching. If not, Wilson believes it’s your loss.
“Forwards and midfielders, whatever you want to call them, we don’t get the love we should,” Wilson told USA TODAY Sports. “But I don’t care because the real fans, the ones who understand the game and really love the game, they realize that forwards and midfielders are a big part of it. So yeah, I feel like we don’t get enough credit. But I love my position.”
However, the world’s best player knows that there will likely be more eyes on women’s basketball than ever before this summer. And she can’t wait to put on a great show.
USA Women’s Basketball Team Olympic Gold Medals
U.S. women’s basketball has won medals at every Olympic Games it has competed in, winning a total of 11 Olympic medals, including nine gold, one silver and one bronze. Here’s how U.S. women have performed since 1976, when women’s basketball made its Olympic debut in Montreal:
- 2020, Tokyo: Gold (90-75 win over Japan)
- 2016, Rio: Gold medal (101-72 win over Spain)
- 2012, London: Gold medal (86-50 win over France)
- 2008, Athens: Gold medal (Australia win 92-65)
- 2004, Athens: Gold medal (74–63 over Australia)
- 2000, Sydney: Gold medal (76–54 over Australia)
- 1996, Atlanta: Gold medal (111–87 win over Brazil)
- 1992, Barcelona: Bronze medal (88-74 win over Cuba in bronze medal game)
- 1988, Seoul: Gold medal (77-70 win over Yugoslavia)
- 1984, Los Angeles: Gold medal (85-55 win over South Korea)
- 1980, Moscow: USA boycotts Olympics over Soviet invasion of Afghanistan
- 1976, Canada: Silver medal (83-67 loss to Czechoslovakia)
The French women’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday by beating Germany 84-71 in the quarterfinals, and will next face Belgium. Given France’s main advantage here – the Bercy Arena is full of locals and they high – There is no doubt that they will be able to put pressure on the Americans if they meet the United States in the final (which is what Diana Taurasi said before the start of the games).
France is led by two players that WNBA fans will know. Maren Johannes (24 points against Germany) and Gabby Williams (15 points, six rebounds) have been outstanding at these Olympics, and their professional experience means they won’t be down against A’ja Wilson, Brianna Stewart and company if they play each other for the gold medal.
olympic basketball results today
Today’s lineup includes four women’s matches.
- Australia 85, Serbia 67
- Belgium 79, Spain 66
- France 84, Germany 71
- USA vs. Nigeria, 3:30 p.m. ET
Here is the full women’s basketball schedule for the Paris Olympics.
‘All eyes on us’ during Olympics, WNBA season, says A’ja Wilson
With the popularity of the Women’s Basketball League on the rise, the American women are aiming for a record eighth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer.
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