It's official: Team USA has pushed their winning streak to 59 in a fantastic showing against Nigeria. There were a few moments when the team faltered, but they finished strong. They grew a dominant lead in the third quarter, and by the fourth, Nigeria just couldn't catch them. Now, they can prepare to battle Australia in the Semifinal.
Jackie Young and A'ja Wilson lead United States
Jackie Young has become a star in the WNBA, winning titles with the Las Vegas Aces, and already has two rings at 26. She showed off her skills today with a 15-point performance to go along with two assists and three rebounds. Young couldn't hit from three, but she was solid in the field, going 6-10. She has been a solid piece all summer providing 19 points on August 4th against Germany.
Fellow champion and Aces player A'ja Wilson has continued to prove why she's one of the best to do it in the women's game. The record breaker shot 81% from the field and was unstoppable in the paint. Once she has the ball under the basket, there's a good chance she's getting a bucket. These two players are examples of the power of this team.
Team Nigeria deserves its flowers
Though they lost 88-74, one has to acknowledge that this team played with pure heart and hustle. Promise Amukamara had a great game putting 19 points on the board as well as three steals. Amy Okonkwo and Ezinne Kalu were just as impressive, scoring 17 and 16, to follow Amukamara's performance.
There was a moment when it seemed like Nigeria really had a chance to snap the streak. They had a quick burst in the second quarter that showed promise. It was a combination of brick wall defense and hot shooting that had them on the USA's heels. However, they stumbled going into the third quarter, and there was never another opportunity to get back into the game. Still, these women should be extremely proud of how they played today.
Assists and rebounds reign supreme
Yes, the United States is a machine when it comes to making buckets, but what stands out is the assist-making and board grabbing. The team ended up with 44 rebounds and 31 assists compared to Nigeria's 28 rebounds and 17 assists. It's pure teamwork that propels this team every single game. The rest of the world is starting to catch up, but they can't match the chemistry of the U.S.
Wilson accounted for ten of the 31 rebounds. The rest were spread out through the roster. Alyssa Thomas led the assist column with six. There also wasn't a single zero in the scoring column. This is what makes winning so easy for these women. Every single one of them plays hard, no matter who they are facing. They don't play down to opponents which is the fatal flaw of many great teams.
The United States will also remain the favorite to defeat Australia. The Aussies have played great ball this summer. Their most recent loss, however, was against Nigeria on July 29th. They'll need to come out strong if they want to pass by the USA. On the other hand, Team USA just needs to stay the course and continue to dominate the world.
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