Joe
A’ja Wilson led the charge with 20 points, and Jackie Young contributed 15 points as the U.S. Women’s Basketball team defeated Nigeria 88-74 on Wednesday night in the Olympic quarterfinals.
This victory extends their remarkable winning streak to 59 consecutive Olympic games.
Breanna Stewart also played a crucial role, adding 13 points for the American team, which has not experienced a loss since the 1992 Barcelona Games. The team is now just two victories away from securing an unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal. They will face a familiar opponent, Australia, in the semifinals on Friday night.
Australia’s Opals secured their spot in the semifinals by decisively defeating Serbia 85-67. In the other semifinal matchup, host France will compete against Belgium.
This loss marked the end of a historic run for Nigeria, which became the first African country to qualify for the Olympic basketball quarterfinals.
In response to sluggish starts in recent games, the U.S. adjusted their starting lineup by replacing Diana Taurasi with Jackie Young. This change marked the first time Taurasi did not start an Olympic game since her debut in 2004.
