Women's Olympic basketball result: United States 85-64 Australia
The United States have swept aside Australia to advance to Sunday's gold medal game at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
They'll face the winner of the semifinal between France and Belgium as they attempt to win their eighth straight gold.
How this game blew open in the second quarter
After leading by just four points after the first quarter, the United States broke this game open in the second, winning the period 25-11 to go into the halftime break up 18 points.
The shot chart above tells the story of how the U.S. did that. It shows that despite hitting a few three-pointers in the second quarter, Australia went just one-for-seven on two-pointers, a cold streak they ultimately couldn't afford.
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Top performers
United States
- Breanna Stewart: 16 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
- A'ja Wilson: 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 2 steals
- Jackie Young: 14 points, 5 assists
Australia
- Isobel Borlase: 11 points
- Tess Madgen: 10 points, 2 assists
- Marianna Tolo: 10 points
Looking ahead to the gold medal game
The United States will face the winner of today's second semifinal between France and Belgium in the gold medal game on Sunday at 9:30am ET.
The Americans faced a stern test against Belgium in the group stage but ultimately won 87-74, while France was beaten in their group finale by the Australia team that the U.S. just blew out.
If France beats Belgium later today, the men's and women's finals would feature the same matchup.
Stewart: 'It's gold or bust'
Make that win No. 60 in a row for Team USA women’s basketball at the Olympics, which Breanna Stewart calls “absolutely incredible.”
“I don’t even think I can put it into words what we’ve done with USA Basketball,” she told NBC postgame. “But this is the standard. When I first put that USA jersey on I knew that it’s gold or bust. (I’m) making sure every time on the court, off the court, the way we prepare ourselves, we’re trying to be the best we can be and reach new heights.”
Stewie finished with a team-high 16 points, five assists and six rebounds.
U.S. won every facet of this game
Unlike yesterday’s U.S.-Serbia men’s semifinal, this game was decided long before the final seconds. The U.S. dominated nearly every facet of this one:
- 46 rebounds to Australia’s 34
- 26 fast-break points to Australia’s 9
- 19 points from turnovers to Australia’s 11
- 44 points in the paint to Australia’s 28
Lots of warm embraces in the handshake line between the players on both teams after the final buzzer sounded on Team USA’s convincing victory. Tons of familiarity between current and former WNBA teammates.
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USA beats Australia 85-64 to advance to gold medal game!
Australia won the fourth quarter by five points to make the scoreline a bit more respectable, but it matters not as the United States earns its 60th consecutive win at the Olympics!
They'll go for their eighth straight gold medal on Sunday, facing the winner of today's second semifinal between France and Belgium.
Q4 4:23 United States 78-56 Australia
Australia are having much more success on offense this quarter and have already exceeded the tournament-low total of 54 points that I referenced at the end of the third.
The defense from the U.S. was so dominant for the first three quarters, the coaching staff undoubtedly won't be happy that they appear to have taken their foot off the gas here a bit in the closing stages.
Q4 5:58 United States 73-51 Australia
Australia is on an 8-0 run. It won't be enough to close the deficit in this game, but an unhappy Cheryl Reeve takes a timeout anyway to speak to her players.
Q4 8:10 United States 71-42 Australia
Make that 9-for-10 on free throws for the Americans. Borlase draws a foul from Taurasi and Australia will go to the line for the very first time today.
U.S. leading Australia 66-40 at end of third quarter
The U.S. is in complete control of this one.
Australia is on pace to score just 53 points today. The lowest total by any team at the Olympics so far has been 54.
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Australia’s Jade Melbourne, who is also a guard on the Washington Mystics, exploded during the Opals’ quarterfinal win, scoring 18 points. Team USA has made things much tougher on Melbourne today, who has been aggressive but is shooting just 3-of-10 from the field as the third quarter nears its conclusion.
Taurasi finally enters the game
Breanna Stewart knocks down her and-1 before subbing out for Diana Taurasi, her first appearance of the game.
The Americans are 6-for-7 on free throws, whereas the Australians have yet to get to the line.
Maybe this is the wrong takeaway, but watching Stewart play off of the Aces makes me extremely excited for Aug. 17 when New York takes on Las Vegas for the second time this season, and the first with Chelsea Gray healthy.
Q3 4:07 United States 58-36 Australia
Wilson forces a miss from Melbourne at one end of the court before the U.S. quickly get the ball to the other end for an easy Stewart bucket in transition.
The U.S. lead is up to 22, the biggest it's been today.
Q3 6:54 United States 49-32 Australia
Smith drives towards the basket but Gray makes a fantastic play to get her hands on the ball and force a tie-up, winning possession for the U.S. Their defense continues to impress today.
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Australia goes with Tess Madgen (who had eight points in the first half) over Steph Talbot, trying to add more pure scoring and spacing to the lineup rather than a ball mover in Talbot.
Q3 10:00 United States 45-27 Australia
The second half is underway in Paris!
There were six total blocks between the two teams in the first half.
A'ja Wilson had four of them.
