After a game that was perhaps closer than Team USA would have liked, the women’s national basketball team came out on top against Germany, finishing the group stage with an 87-68 victory. The United States, which had already qualified for the round of 16, will now do so as the group leader with a perfect 3-0 record in the group stage.
Despite a sluggish start and falling behind early against Germany, Team USA managed to come back strong, limiting the deficit to 10 points in the second quarter. The United States extended the lead throughout the second half, stifling any chance of a comeback by Germany.
Jackie Young led the U.S. in scoring with 19 points off the bench, including five three-pointers. A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, who have been the team’s leading scorers so far, finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Two-time WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally led the German team with 15 points, with Alexis Peterson adding 14. Germany (2-1) had already qualified for the quarterfinals but will now be in a slightly less favorable position with the result.
The United States and Germany now advance to the round of 16, with their opponents yet to be determined.
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Team USA 87, Germany 68
The United States secured another solid victory in the group stage, beating Germany by 19 points in their final match before the round of 16.
Jackie Young had a standout game with 19 points off the bench, while team leaders A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart finished with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
A dominant performance from Jackie Young, who not only scored 19 points but also accumulated four interceptions, being a crucial element of the United States defense.
With two minutes left, the United States leads 85-64, with Germany reducing the deficit thanks to a three-pointer from Alexis Peterson and a one-pointer from Luisa Geiselsoder. The result is all but assured, but if Germany can close the gap, it will be in a better position for the round of 16.
Kahleah Copper makes three-pointers and is now 3 of 3 from three-point range. USA 83, Germany 56.
Brittny Griner makes a big block and takes the ball to the other end, where Jackie Young hits a three-pointer… followed by another three moments later. Young made 5 of 8 three-pointers and scored a team-high 17 points so far.
The United States now has a 25-point lead with just under six minutes remaining.
Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson put together a great sequence, with Wilson setting a great screen, Plum throwing a great pocket pass and Wilson following up with a shot.
That basket, plus a pair of three-pointers from Jackie Young and a turnover from Alyssa Thomas, gave the United States a 69-46 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Young’s second hat-trick was a magnificent buzzer beater as the United States headed into the fourth with a particularly dominant look.
Brittney Griner, who also had a low-scoring day, gets back-to-back baskets with a jump shot and a fastbreak layup. 59-43, USA.
Germany’s Leonie Fiebich collides with Alyssa Thomas and has her right leg rolled under her; she is helped off the field and replaced by Satou Sabally. Fiebich is the team’s second-leading scorer so far, and this will be a major blow for Germany.
Kelsey Plum, who has struggled to score so far, gets her first points of the game with a great three-pointer off a nice pass from Jackie Young, then gets a huge layup under pressure for an and-one. Team USA has readjusted after a hot start by Germany and leads 54-41 with three and a half minutes left in the quarter.
But don’t underestimate Germany yet: Frieda Buhner scores a huge three-pointer and Germany pulls back to within ten points of the USA. Team USA 49, Germany 39.
Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart scored two big baskets off the glass, and A’ja Wilson stole the ball and drove the length of the court for two more points. The U.S. is now up 49-36 and looking to continue to extend its lead.
The second half is underway, with Alexis Peterson getting a steal and a layup on the fast break for Germany. Satou Sabally hits a three-pointer to make it 41-34 in the first minute. Germany started strong and the U.S. seems a bit caught off guard.
After a sluggish start to the season, the United States has taken a solid lead against Germany thanks to a fairly even distribution of points. Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, who have led the United States in scoring in every game so far, currently lead with 11 and eight points, respectively. The United States has 18 bench points, compared to Germany’s three, a classic example of the depth of the American bench.
Shooting issues aside, Team USA did a good job of taking advantage of Germany’s turnovers: the Germans turned over 15 balls and the United States scored 14 points from them.
Team USA 41, Germany 29 at halftime
Despite struggling early in the game, the United States now has a double-digit lead, leading Germany 41-29 at halftime. An 11-0 run midway through the quarter really got the team going after Germany had a nine-point lead in the first quarter.
But both teams struggled to score, missing several key shots. Germany scored just 10 points in the second quarter; the U.S. scored 25, but is now 2 of 10 from three-point range.
Jackie Young gives the USA the momentum with back-to-back points, hitting a long two-pointer and then stealing a fastbreak layup from Breanna Stewart. Germany takes a timeout and Team USA leads 32-24.
Alyssa Thomas scores a tricky layup to give the United States their first lead of the game. The U.S. now leads 24-22 with just over six minutes left in the half.
A huge three-pointer from Kahleah Copper tied the score again at 22-22 and forced Germany to take a timeout.
Jackie Young scores the first three-pointer for the United States to tie the score at 19-19, but a few misses give Germany’s Emily Bessoir a chance to score the and-one to regain the lead.
The United States began to respond and narrowed the gap with Germany to 19-16 at the end of the first quarter. Both teams remained scoreless for the final two minutes of the quarter, the only points coming from a pair of free throws by Sabrina Ionescu.
Team USA is struggling to make three-pointers, going 0-of-3 from three-point range, which has become an unfortunate trend. Germany, meanwhile, led by nine points, but will now have to defend against a surging USA team in the final three sets.
Germany took the early lead, leading 15-6 with just over five minutes left in the quarter. A quick counterattack by Leonie Fiebich forced the U.S. team to take a timeout.
And here we go! Germany strikes first with a three-pointer from Leonie Fiebich, but Breanna Stewart scores the first points for the United States with a shot in the paint. The score is 5-2 for Germany after the first minutes.
