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Team USA Women's Basketball Defeats Nigeria in Olympic Opener, 81-72

Date: July 27, 2021

By: Kahlei Smith

Team USA women's basketball celebrates after their opening round victory win against Nigeria.

Getty Images

Despite being dominant for decades, the USA women’s basketball team’s qualifying round performances surely added to doubts on whether they would secure gold this year. They lost their first two of three matches in the qualifying round to Team WNBA and Australia, with the latter their first loss against them since 2010. Team USA’s performance against Nigeria proves that this year’s Olympics certainly won’t be a walk in the park.

After overcoming an early deficit, Team USA (1-0) pulled away with the victory against Nigeria (0-1), 81-72. With the win, the USA women's team secured their 50th Olympic victory, a milestone dating back to the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. 

A'ja Wilson had a dominant Olympics debut, putting up 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Brittney Griner finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Breanna Stewart added nine points and 11 rebounds. Despite held scoreless, Sue Bird contributed 13 assists and four rebounds. Her 11th assist in the game was also her 100th assist in Olympic competition.

Diana Taurasi, who missed qualifying round competition due to a nagging hip injury, played in her 33rd Olympic basketball game, the most by any American all-time. She started in the game, scoring 10 points on 3/6 shooting.

“I felt pretty good,” Taurasi said. “If I just keep getting a little stronger, a little bit better and whatever I can do to help, that’s what I’m here for.”

Nigeria went on an 8-1 run in the first quarter, pressuring Team USA on the defensive end. Griner committed four turnovers during the stretch. After trading leads, Ify Ibekwe nailed a three-pointer near the end of the quarter, giving Nigeria the advantage. Nigeria was up 20-17 and extended their lead in the second quarter, ahead by a score of 25-20 before Team USA would pick up the pace.

They closed the lead after Wilson made two jump shots and Taurasi drilled a three-pointer mid-way through the second quarter to give them a 28-25 lead. Team USA went on an 23-0 run to close out the first half. 

A Team USA women's player goes up for a layup during an Olympics game.

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

After a sluggish start, Team USA adapted to Nigeria’s defensive pressure in the second half. Griner turned up the heat on both sides of the floor, scoring nine of her 13 points and blocking two shots in the third quarter. Jewell Loyd made a buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the quarter, giving Team USA a 70-50 lead. 

Team USA’s turnover woes in the first half were prevalent in the fourth quarter, allowing Nigeria to go on a 12-0 run of their own. However, they were able to pull away with the victory after Chelsea Gray supplied an offensive spark off the bench to close out the game. She finished with six points and three assists. 

Turnovers were the key metric plaguing Team USA’s performance against Nigeria and previous games. In their previous matchup, Team USA had 20 turnovers while also finishing with 20 turnovers once again in this game. Although they pulled away in both games, Team USA must be cautious with the ball and not succumb easily to relentless defensive pressure. 

Team USA looks to improve as they have another Group B match against Japan on Friday, July 30 at 12:40 a.m. (EDT). 

Kahlei Smith can be reached at kahlei.smith@student.shu.edu.

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