Have we seen the best US women’s basketball yet at the Paris Games?

Three games down and three games to go for the U.S. women’s basketball team in its quest for its eighth Olympic gold medal and 10th overall.

As expected, Team USA is undefeated after completing group play on Sunday at the Paris Games. The U.S. women extended their Olympic winning streak to 58 games with victories over Japan (102-76), Belgium (87-74) and Germany (87-68).

But the real basketball lies ahead, as the knockout stages begin on Wednesday, when Team USA will face Nigeria (3:30 p.m. ET) in today’s quarterfinals.

Nigeria has been a Cinderella story during the Paris Olympics. The D’Tigress won the group 2-1 for their first Olympic victory since 2004, with decisions against Australia and Canada, and became the first African basketball team – women or men – to advance to the Olympic quarterfinals.

Team USA is familiar with Nigeria. The squads met in the opening game of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the Americans winning by nine points in one of two games decided by single digits in Team USA’s Olympic streak. They also faced February’s Olympic qualifying tournament, when the US women won comfortably (100-46).

If Team USA advances to the semifinals, it will be a Serbia-Australia championship. The Opals have six active WNBA players (Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith, Sami Whitcomb, Stephanie Talbot, Kristy Wallace and Jade Melbourne) plus the legendary Lauren Jackson, and they are led by New York Liberty coach Sandy Brondello.

On the other side of the bracket, Belgium will clash with Spain — the only other undefeated country. Emma Meesseman, the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP, led Belgium along with Julie Vanloo of the Washington Mystics, while Megan Gustafson of the Las Vegas Aces played for Spain.

The winner of the Belgium-Spain encounter will face the winner of Germany-France. The final match will feature several familiar WNBA faces: sisters Satou Sabally and Nyara Sabally along with Leonie Fiebich for Germany; and Gabby Williams, Marine Johannes and Iliana Rupert for the Olympic host team.

ESPN breaks down what we’ve learned about Team USA in the midst of the 2024 Paris Games.

What surprised you the most about the way Team USA played?

Philippe: The same can likely be said of every Olympics, but Team USA’s depth is a sight to behold and remains a key separator from the rest of the field. Kahleah Copper, the WNBA’s second-leading scorer, has been the last player off the bench. Players such as Sabrina Ionescu, Alyssa Thomas and Napheesa Collier saw the floor in garbage time. The bench accounted for 52 of the team’s 87 points Sunday against Germany. It’s really exciting to see, especially with so many reserves that are close to or in their prime.

The American style of play is also popular. When the US women are at their best — forcing turnovers and stopping on defense and using them to score in transition — it’s beautiful basketball. Some defensive combinations — being able to play Jackie Young, A’ja Wilson and Thomas together, for example — are a coach’s dream. The competition is going to get tougher going forward, but if the team keeps going and continues to improve, there’s no telling what Game 6 will look like.

Pelton: Along the lines of depth, it is the ability for the players to stay ready. Copper saw just six minutes of action in the first two games and Young 22 minutes; but when called in a bigger role against Germany, they scored a combined 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, with Young adding four steals.

It’s not easy for a player to adjust to a smaller role than the one he usually plays as a star on a WNBA team, but the culture that USA Basketball has developed during its seven consecutive gold medals means there’s no room to complain about spending. time on the bench.

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Windhorst: USA women’s basketball excels defensively

Brian Windhorst praised the US women’s basketball team for their excellent defense in their win over Germany.

What can affect US women?

Philippe: A combination of a poor shooting night on 3-pointers and a litany of turnovers. Team USA’s 32.7% clip from beyond the 3-point line ranked fifth on the field in group play, and only three Americans made at least three threes: Young (5-for-8, all attempts coming on Sunday), Ionescu (4 -for-for-10) and Copper (3-for-4, all efforts Sunday). That trend could make Team USA more one-dimensional and allow opponents to zero in on the paint.

The U.S. women have also had moments — especially when forced to play a half-court offense and unable to transition — when they have struggled with turnovers, much of which can be attributed to their still-developing chemistry. in court.

Pelton: The USA’s lack of 3-point attempts is a bigger problem than the team’s accuracy. Only Serbia (16.7) averaged fewer attempts than America (18.3). If the opponent heats up from 3, the math game can start to work against the US It is noted that this did not happen in one real test Team USA against Belgium, which shot 5-of-27 (18.5%) in 3s. A hotter night for the Cats could make for a closer rematch in one gold medal game scenario.

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The numbers behind the US women’s basketball team’s win over Germany

Check out some key stats and facts behind Team USA’s 87-68 win over Germany in women’s basketball.

Most impressive player? Disappointed players?

Philippe: Breanna Stewart and Wilson have been sensational, and they became the first duo in US women’s basketball history to each average at least 20 points through the first three games of one Olympics. (He averaged 20.3 points per game.) If anything, one can argue that Team USA should lead to them too much: They have scored 44.2% of the team’s points, which if maintained would be Team USA record for one. Olympics.

The starting backcourt of Diana Taurasi and Chelsea Gray has been somewhat underwhelming, combining for four points on 2-for-16 shooting (0-for-8 on 3s) in three games, though Gray’s 13-assist game against Japan was a highlight. . Team USA largely found its footing against Germany when it came to the bench late in the first quarter, and the pair didn’t see the court after that point, with Ionescu and Jewell Loyd starting the second half and Kelsey Plum and Young also playing big minutes.

Young and Copper, in particular, have been players who haven’t seen much playing time in the tournament, but shined against Germany and made a case to see more minutes.

It’s worth monitoring what coach Cheryl Reeve tinkers with the starting five going into the knockout rounds and who keeps her leans in the big time. Taurasi and Gray’s experience could still prove valuable in these situations.

Pelton: Besides Stewart and Wilson, let’s give a shoutout to Thomas, the other top three finishers in last year’s WNBA MVP voting. A starter alongside Stewart and Wilson at the 2022 FIBA ​​World Cup, Thomas has adapted well to his game-changing backup role with 14 points and nine assists over the past two games. The U.S. outscored opponents by 45 points with Thomas on the court in those games and minus-13 with him on the bench against Belgium and Germany.

Team USA once won the gold, in 2008, with the starting point guard Sue Bird averaged 3.0 points per game when he focused on setting more talented scorers around him, so that there is a proof of concept for the role of the backcourt. Still, 1.4 points per game combined to start the guard duo Taurasi and Gray may not cut in the medal round.

What will most determine Team USA’s quarterfinal matchup with Nigeria?

Philippe: How to respond to Nigerian trademark defense pressure. As point guard Ezinne Kalu said after winning over Australia in which Nigeria came away with 15 steals and forced 26 turnovers, “When we are on the court, we smell blood. No one defends enough like us, and that’s what we are going to do.” Nigeria is forced. 17 French turnovers and 26 Canadian turnovers (16 of which were steals) in subsequent games.

In the Tokyo Games matchup with Nigeria, Team USA coughed up the ball 25 times, with D’Tigress getting 11 steals. Turnovers have been a problem at times for US women, so they must be disciplined, communicate and hope for good chemistry that over the course of time in France reduces potential miscues.

Pelton: On the flip side, the U.S. women will also need to take full advantage of their size advantage against a Nigerian squad that doesn’t have tall players of 6-foot-2 averaging at least 10 minutes per game. In previous Olympic games, the USA grabbed 44% of the available offensive rebounds and got double-double rebounds from Stewart, Wilson and Brittney Griner. That’s how Team USA scored 81 points — despite having turnover problems and going 5-of-20 on 3-point shooting.

Will Team USA win their eighth straight gold medal? Why not?

Philippe: This team is very deep and very talented, and Stewart and Wilson played well enough to make it happen. Each group stage game is an important learning experience for the team as they put all the pieces together and determine the best lineup/rotation. As a result, Team USA will play their best basketball in the tournament next week.

Meeting in the finals against France or neighboring Belgium could make for a tough matchup in a hostile environment, but the U.S. women are ready to do what they’ve done in each of their seven Olympics and bring home the gold.

Pelton: In a single elimination scenario, it is possible that US women may fall victim to anxiety. I’m still not sure which country can pull it off, though. Spain, the only other unbeaten team in the group stage, has won three games by a combined total of just 10 points, and is the underdog on ESPN BET against Belgium in the quarterfinals.

France were dominant in their opening two games but couldn’t take care of business against an Australian squad that got off to a slow start in the group final, setting up a tougher quarter-final clash against Germany. I wonder if the host’s high pressure style is as effective against elite opponents as against weaker ones.

Unless another team proves itself a contender in the medal round, I don’t see who I will give more than puncher’s chance against the United States.