United States beat Japan live updates (2024)

The United States got their quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal off to a perfect start in Lille on Monday with a comprehensive 102-76 victory over an entertaining Japan.

The omens were ominous for Japan: the United States has no Olympic losses since 1992 and last lost to Japan at the 1976 Games in Montreal.

Japan battled hard but they were no match for the USA, who next take on Belgium on Thursday.

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Breanna Stewart, who showed out with 22 points and eight rebounds tonight, has been speaking to reporters after the United States victory.

When asked what's on her mind before matches, she confidently replied:

💬"Honestly, dominate. Any time before a game I think dominate because I want to set the tone.

"We have a new team here but we wanted to set the tone tonight."

On building team spirit among the group she said:

💬"It's all about respect. It's about respecting each other and what we do because we have the twelve best players in the world.

"And it's about going out there and having because these moments don't come around often."

All 12 members of Team USA scored as the group's quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal began with a 102-76 win over Japan. A'ja Wilson led the Americans with 24 points and 13 rebounds, while her frontcourt partner, Breanna Stewart, added 22 points and eight rebounds. Chelsea Gray scored only two points but she recorded a team-high 13 assists.

Team USA shot just 20 percent from 3-point range, but it shot 67 percent on 2-point attempts. Next up is Belgium on Thursday.

That's it! Japan attempt an audacious half-court shot at the buzzer but Team USA win this one 102-76.

A huge cheer from the crowd here in Lille as they've been thoroughly entertained by both teams.

Team USA's pursuit of immortality continues...

Q4 0:30 United States 100-73 Japan

Japan have made the most of what they've got — and it's still nowhere near enough. The U.S. haven't had any easy possessions but it's still been a pretty comfortable night's work as we enter the final minutes.

Chelsea Gray re-enters the court and it looks like she'll have to wait another game to break the assists record. She's still on 13 for tonight.

Q4 02:18 United States 100-68 Japan

Japan are still looking to keep up the pace, but there's little left in the tank. Smothering defence from Team USA and they score another transition bucket to extend their lead to 32 points.

And there's five different scorers for the U.S. in double figures — was there ever any doubt?

Q4 03:45 United States 94-66 Japan

Lovely ball movement from Team USA and it falls to the one person you want it to — Sabrina Ionescu. That's another three for her.

Team USA going from strength to strength here.

Q4 05:00 United States 91-66

Stewart has many strengths — and her engine is one of them. She gets another easy fast-break bucket at the midway point of the final quarter.

Q4 06:00 United States 89-64

If there's any silver lining for Japan here, it's that they won't face the U.S. in the knockouts should they make it.

And the Americans are finally finding their range as Ionescu — who faced Steph Curry in the three-point contest at the All Star Game this year — sinks her second three-pointer of the night.

Q4 07:08 United States 86-64

That's 18 points for Takada with only one miss tonight! And Japan take a leaf out of the American playbook with a quick pass in the transition to give the forward an easy bucket.

Q4 09:40 United States 79-57

The final quarter has begun and Japan get an early foul to go to the line. The mismatch in the paint has been evident, though: Japan have had six free throws while the U.S. have had 16.

Japan have thrown everything at the U.S. tonight, shooting admirably from deep ... and they're still facing a double-digit loss.

What must Belgium and Germany be thinking?

Q3 United States 79-57 Japan

The third quarter has just finished and the USA really stepped up the gears in this one.

But we saw a 19-point advantage erased in one quarter last night during Serbia versus Puerto Rico. Surely that won't happen here?

Q3 02:00 United States 71-53 Japan

It's not just the three-pointers that Japan have in their arsenal, as they score from some lovely interior passing. They might not get the win tonight, but Japan have plenty of positives to take away already.

Need any more proof that A’ja Wilson is miles (meters?) ahead of the rest of the women’s hoops world? How about this three-possession sequence:

• Offensive rebound and stick back over three Japanese players where she sticks her arms up in the air like she’s playing against toddlers.
• A hard drive from the left wing where she initially went to her strong left hand, then hopped back to her right to finish and avoid a charge.
• A repeat of the first play, but instead of finishing, she dishes to a cutting Breanna Stewart for another hoop.

She may be the most versatile basketball player alive.

Q3 03:18 United States 69-49 Japan

Griner is back on the court and, like the US for much of tonight, makes her height advantage count right under the basket as she puts it in with ease.

Moments later Ionescu gets her first bucket of the night off a Griner assist as the USA establish a commanding lead.

Q3 05:32 United States 61-44 Japan

Stewart is starting to carry the scoring load. She's on 18 points points tonight with 9/12.