United States Women’s Basketball Team Dominates Australia in Semifinals, Advances to Gold Medal Game
The United States women’s basketball team has secured a spot in the gold medal game at the Olympics, defeating Australia 85-64 in the semifinals. The win marks the latest step in the team’s quest for an eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal.
The U.S. played a dominant game on both offense and defense, with Breanna Stewart and Jackie Young leading the team with 16 and 14 points, respectively. The team shot 7-of-16 from three-point range and scored 19 points off Australia’s turnovers. The U.S. also outscored Australia 26-14 in fast break points.
The American defense was particularly strong, with 10 steals and five blocked shots. The team’s offense was well-balanced, with all but one player scoring and all but two contributing rebounds.
Australia’s top scorers were Isobel Borlase, Tess Madgen, and Marianna Tolo, who each scored 11 points off the bench.
The U.S. will now face the winner of the France vs. Belgium game in the gold medal matchup on Sunday. Australia will play the loser of that game for the bronze medal.
This win marks the 59th consecutive victory for the U.S. women’s basketball team, dating back to 1992. The team has been dominant throughout the Olympics, with an average margin of victory of 24 points per game.
The gold medal game will be a highly anticipated matchup, with the U.S. looking to extend its streak of Olympic gold medals to eight.