- Indiana Fever. Caitlin Clark fan protest steals the headlines during USA Olympic basketball game
- Olympic Games. 2024 Paris Olympics LIVE | Day 9 Latest updates: Lyles comes through and wins 100m, Djokovic claims gold
The U.S. Women's Basketball team continued their dominance at the Paris Olympic Games with a convincing 87-68 victory over Germany, closing out Group play with an unblemished 3-0 record.
This win marks the team's 58th consecutive Olympic triumph, setting them up as the top seed for the knockout round starting Wednesday.
Team USA crushes Germany to finish group play
Jackie Young led the charge off the bench, scoring 19 points, while A'ja Wilson added 14 and Breanna Stewart contributed 13.
The Americans showcased their trademark balanced offense and stifling defense, forcing 23 turnovers and limiting Germany to just three offensive rebounds.
Germany, fresh off a victory over Belgium, managed to take an early lead, finishing the first quarter ahead 19-16.
However, Team USA responded with a 25-10 run in the second quarter, breaking the game wide open.
Despite occasional runs by Germany, the U.S. maintained control, pushing their lead to 23 points by the end of the third quarter.
Coach Cheryl Reeve's squad exhibited exemplary teamwork and defensive energy, with key contributions from Kelsey Plum and Young at the point of attack, and Wilson and Stewart dominating the pick-and-roll.
Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas added to the defensive effort with active hands and relentless pressure.
Despite a slow start from beyond the arc, where the team made only three of its first 12 attempts, the Americans found their rhythm as the game progressed.
Young's five three-pointers off the bench and additional long-range shots from Kahleah Copper helped extend the lead.
Germany's Satou Sabally, a standout player for the WNBA'sDallas Wings, led her team with 15 points but struggled against the relentless U.S. defense.
The Americans limited their opponents to 43% shooting and have held their Olympic adversaries to just 40% overall in France.
As the U.S. team advances to the quarterfinals, their path to an eighth consecutive gold medal appears firmly within reach.
With their next game set for Wednesday in Paris will be against Nigeria at 3:30 pm ET, where the Americans are poised to continue their unprecedented winning streak and further solidify their dominance in Olympic basketball.