Onto The Semifinals: Team USA Women’s Basketball Defeats Nigeria In Olympic Quarterfinals

Things got a little chippy toward the end of the United States women’s basketball team’s quarterfinals matchup against Nigeria on August 7.

An unnecessary basket from Nigeria with 0.8 seconds to go in the game did not sit too well with Team USA, especially Kahleah Copper, whose actions following the bucket awarded Nigeria a technical free throw.

Despite all the end-of-game chaos, however, the United States emerged with the 88-74 victory to continue its dominant run in the 2024 Olympic Games.

It took a little while to get things going for Team USA, as the Americans only scored four points through the first three minutes of regulation. By the second quarter, though, they were off and running. Heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, Team USA’s lead had swelled to 28 points.

Here are some takeaways from the United States’ quarterfinals efforts:

First Glimpse Of The Torch Being Passed

It’s no secret that Diana Taurasi has been a staple for Team USA women’s basketball for twenty years. She’s two games away from her sixth gold medal, and at 42, is no question the leader of this 2024 Olympic squad.

There will come a time, however, when the torch of USA basketball will ultimately be passed.

The first sign proving the passing’s imminence came when Taurasi said this will be her final Olympic Games back on July 25. Another sign presented itself in this game against Nigeria when Jackie Young got the start over Taurasi.

Until this game, Taurasi had started every other game this go-around for Team USA. Granted, this decision may have come because Taurasi had not contributed to the box score much in Team USA’s first three games. It could have also been a way to reward Young for her 19-point performance in the United States’ final group play game against Germany. There are a number of reasons as to why Taurasi did not start the game.

Whatever the case may be, the decision was a perfect metaphor for Taurasi’s Olympic tenure coming to an end.

In just two games, the torch will be officially passed, and Young is just one of many up-and-coming players who will continue to carry on the legacy that Taurasi will leave behind.

Another Strong Game For Young

Young sure took advantage of getting her first Olympic start. In fact, she picked up right where she left off against Germany, getting to work early with five points in the first quarter.

Young ultimately finished with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists, definitely proving she was a worthy substitute in the starting lineup for the veteran Taurasi.

This two-game stretch for Young should not come as a surprise.

Young has been lighting it up all year for the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces. In 24 games this season, Young has averaged 18.5 points, 5.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds. Her performance has been paramount to the Aces’ success and was especially needed when Las Vegas was without Chelsea Gray for the first chunk of the season.

Young, along with Kelsey Plum, also joined this year’s Team USA squad with hardware already under their belts. Young and Plum won a gold medal for the United States in 3x3 basketball in 2021 in Tokyo. Given that, Young is no stranger to the bright lights of the Olympic Games and is more than ready to take on a starting role moving forward.

Only time will tell how Team USA Head Coach Cheryl Reeve decides to start Team USA’s semifinals game, however. Regardless of how the lineup shakes out, though, Young has proven to be a strong contributor throughout these Olympic Games.

Wilson/Stewart Show On Repeat For Team USA

It would come as more of a surprise if A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart did not have another dominant game in this year’s Olympics than if they did. Suffice it to say, Wilson and Stewart have been on an absolute tear, and it sure isn’t stopping any time soon.

It definitely didn’t stop against Nigeria, as Wilson and Stewart both finished in double-figures yet again. Wilson picked up another double-double, finishing with a team-high 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Stewart finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists.

In four Olympic matchups against Japan , Belgium , Germany and now Nigeria, Wilson and Stewart have lit up the box score, as the duo has accounted for 155 of Team USA’s 364 points. That means Wilson and Stewart have been responsible for over 40% of the United States’ scoring so far in Paris.

Who knows, Team USA fans may very well be watching the new Taurasi and Sue Bird in the form of Wilson and Stewart. Taurasi and Bird were unstoppable in sixteen years of Olympic play together, winning five gold medals when they were with Team USA.

Wilson and Stewart already won one gold medal together in 2021 in Tokyo and are just 80 minutes of game time away from another. At 27 and 29, Wilson and Stewart don’t seem like they’re going to be stopping any time soon, either.

Taurasi Gets One To Fall

After going scoreless in two games and scoring just two points in total heading into Team USA’s game against Nigeria, Taurasi finally got a bucket to fall.

It had been two games since she’d scored a bucket, but early in the second quarter , that changed when Taurasi added three points to Team USA’s tally. Granted, that was Taurasi’s only bucket of the game, bringing her Olympic total to just four points through four games, but it felt all the more momentous given her two-game dry spell. Taurasi also chipped in four assists against Nigeria.

Again, this team does not need Tauarasi’s scoring to ultimately win a gold medal. Not nearly as much as they need her leadership.

Taurasi’s achieved what Team USA is in search of this year five times already. At age 42, with 20 years in the WNBA under her belt, Taurasi’s mere presence undoubtedly does a lot on its own for this team; so be it if the shots haven’t been falling as much.

Team USA will play Australia in the semifinals at 11:30 EST on August 9 for a chance to play for a gold medal.

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