Team USA’s quest to achieve its eighth straight gold medal started Monday night inside Pierre Mauroy Stadium.
Led by Aces superstar A’ja Wilson, the Americans entered the tournament as overwhelming favorites to be the last team standing at the end of the Paris Olympic Games.
Wilson and Team USA showcased why they are the favorites in Monday’s 102-76 win over Japan. The team executed Cheryl Reeve’s gameplan and realized a clear advantage in the Olympic opener: size.
Japan’s tallest player — Maki Takada — stands at 6-1, a clear height difference with Team USA’s frontcourt starting with WNBA MVP winners Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who both stand at 6-4. To make matter worse, the 6-9 Brittney Griner came off the bench to dominate around the rim.
Wilson, who went into the Olympic break as the obvious 2024 WNBA MVP frontrunner, opened Olympic action with the same dominance on the court. She raced up and and down the court, defended the rim and scored throughout the midrange.
The Aces superstar finished with 24 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 26 minutes. The Japanese players knew they were in trouble after Wilson registered eight points and two blocks in less than seven minutes to start.
The biggest negative for the Americans Monday was the poor shooting from deep. They finished 4-for-20 (20%) from downtown while Team Japan shot 15-for-39 (38%). Each made trey for Team Japan cued its fans inside the arena to applaud despite the overwhelming deficit.
Japan’s Mai Yamamoto (17 points) made a game-high five treys. Four other players contributed two treys apiece.
But Team USA’s dominance in the paint — 64-22 — was more than enough to offset the poor three-point shooting. And the Americans constantly pushed pace and share the ball. Chelsea Gray’s 13 assists led to plenty of scoring opportunities on Monday night. Reeve’s team assisted on 35-of-42 made field goals in the win.
Team USA led by 11 at halftime but the lead ballooned to as many as 32 points before the final buzzer. Kahleah Copper’s layup with 2:18 remaining in regulation ensured that every American player scored in the matchup.
Stewart finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks while Griner contributed 11 points and nine rebounds. The trio of Stewart, Griner and Wilson dealt with defenders on their hips throughout the win, which is made possible with FIBA rules not including a defensive three-second penalty. The efforts clearly didn’t work, as the trio combined for 57 points and 30 total rebounds (11 offensive).
The Americans dominated on the glass, 56-27. And the 16 offensive boards created endless second-chance opportunities against Team Japan.
The talent gap was on full display as the American roster — filled with WNBA talent — took on a team that doesn’t have a single player with a WNBA game under their belt. Japan’s Stephanie Mawuli, however, has spent time with the Liberty during training camp.
Group C action continues for Team USA on Friday against Belgium. On the same day, Team Japan will face a German team that includes more WNBA talent.
