The gap between the best and the rest was evident on Wednesday, as all four winners in the women’s 5×5 basketball quarterfinals won by at least 10 points. Now, Team USA, France, Belgium, and Australia are the remaining teams competing for the gold medal.
Before we delve into potential matchups for the gold medal game, let’s recap how the four semifinalists reached this stage.
Smith leads Aussies to semis
The Opals dominated their game against Serbia, with Alanna Smith scoring 22 points and Cayla George adding 18 off the bench. Despite facing a tough challenge against Team USA in the semifinals, Australia is in prime position to secure their sixth Olympic medal in women’s basketball.
Belgium advances behind bigs
Belgium’s duo of Emma Meesseman and Kyara Linskens led their team to victory over Spain with a combined 38 points and 17 rebounds. Now, Belgium will face the host country, France, in the semifinals.
Marine’s magic propels France
Marine Johannès’ stellar performance helped France secure a win over Germany, with Gabby Williams also making a significant impact. France now prepares to face Belgium in the semifinals.
New starting lineup, same winning result for Team USA
Team USA’s decision to alter their starting lineup proved successful, with Jackie Young stepping up in place of Diana Taurasi. A’ja Wilson’s standout performance also played a crucial role in securing their victory over Nigeria.
The semifinals are set to begin on Friday, with Team USA facing Australia first, followed by France vs. Belgium. The gold and bronze medal matches will take place on Sunday.
