Rekubit Exchange:Belgium pushed US women's basketball in every way possible. Why that's a good thing

VILLENEUVE-D'ASCQ,Rekubit Exchange France — What happened to the cakewalk everyone expected? 

The U.S. women's basketball team might have won by double-digits at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Thursday, beating Belgium 87-75, but make no mistake: This was a tight contest. And it’s exactly what the Americans needed. 

A banged up Belgium squad — the Belgians are missing one of their best players in guard Julie Allemand — pushed the U.S. in every way imaginable at State Pierre Mauroy in their second pool play game, hitting big shots, muscling away rebounds and generally just disrupting the Americans’ flow. 

But each time Belgium cut it close, pulling within four or six or even leading briefly in the first half, the depth of Team USA proved to be the difference. 

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A long two-pointer from Napheesa Collier. A perfectly placed pass from Sabrina Ionescu. A timely block from Breanna Stewart. A bucket inside from A’ja Wilson. A tough offensive board and putback from Alyssa Thomas. And so on and so forth. 

Team USA was led again by Stewart (26 points, seven rebounds, three blocks) and Wilson (23 points, 13 rebounds, three steals) as it continues it quest for a record eighth consecutive gold medal. Stewart was tremendous for the the Americans early, scoring 11 of their first 15 points.

“Obviously Stewie was really special, she carried us early until A’ja found her footing,” said USA coach Cheryl Reeve, adding that she is regularly “wowed” by "the two best players in the world" every day. 

That the win didn’t come easy was OK with Reeve.  

“We like when it’s close and there’s 24,000 people against you,” Reeve deadpanned after the game, a reference to the raucous crowd that showed up to root (loudly) for Belgium. “Who doesn’t want a great growing experience?”

Alyssa Thomas said the U.S. knew it was going to be pushed. It's what the Americans wanted. 

Thomas was particularly good off the bench (eight points, six rebounds, four assists). Reeve described it as a “really, really nice stretch” in the first half when Thomas helped the Americans create separation in the first half.

“Her ability to change the game is exactly what we envisioned in bringing her off the bench,” Reeve said. “She really got us going in the second quarter.”

It was a quiet night for Brittney Griner (seven points, three rebounds), playing abroad for the first time these Olympics since she was released from a Russian prison in December 2022. Griner said Thursday was emotional for her after learning that a major prisoner swap had taken place, bringing American journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan home to the U.S. The men had been wrongfully detained in Russia since March 2023 and December 2018, respectively. 

Once again the Americans again shot just OK from 3 (5-of-14, 36%) and were uncharacteristically sloppy for stretches (17 turnovers) but dominated the boards 49-27. A string of steals midway through the fourth quarter helped the Americans stretch their lead to 14 and they held on from there. 

“For us, to be in hard games is valuable — versus maybe some pool play (games) we’ve had in the past that don’t ready you for what lies ahead in medal rounds,” Reeve said. “This was a terrific for us. No doubt we’re gonna be in this situation again and hopefully we can handle it just as well.”

Team USA meets Germany and WNBA star Satou Sabally in their final pool play game Sunday.