This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Breanna Stewart scored 16 points to lead the United States to an 85-64 victory over Australia in the first semifinal at the Paris Olympics on Friday, sending the Americans to the gold-medal game in the eighth consecutive Olympics.
The U.S. (5-0) will face the winner of the other semifinal between Belgium vs. France, scheduled for later Friday, in the gold-medal game on Sunday. Australia will take on the loser in the bronze-medal game.
A showdown against Belgium would be a rematch. Team USA beat Belgium 87-74 in the group stage on Aug. 1.
Stewart shot 6-of-12 from the floor, sank a 3-pointer, and also had six rebounds and five assists. A’ja Wilson added 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks, while her Las Vegas Aces teammate Jackie Young — making her second straight start — notched 14 points and five assists. Off the bench, Kahleah Copper chipped in 11 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Isobel Borlase paced the Opals (3-2) with 11 points, while Marianna Tolo and Tess Madgen scored 10 points apiece. Veteran Lauren Jackson — a four-time Olympic medalist and former three-time WNBA MVP — played only briefly, notching just a rebound and a steal.
Still, Australia will have the chance to medal for the first time since Jackson was last on the squad, in 2012, when the Australians won the bronze in London.
The Americans never trailed the Australians and were tied with them for only 26 seconds early in the first quarter, broken by a layup from Chelsea Gray that sparked a 12-2 run.
The Opals trailed by four points entering the second quarter, but the U.S. pulled away with a 14-2 run to gain a comfortable 16-point advantage. Copper had two assists and a 3-pointer during that stretch. The U.S. later led by as much as 21 points in the second frame after a mid-range jumper from Stewart.
A 16-4 run midway through the third period — fueled by six points and two boards from Wilson — put the U.S. ahead by 27 points.
The U.S. shot 50 percent from the floor as a team and had 31 assists on 34 made baskets. The Americans outrebounded Australia 46-34.
Team USA has now won 60 straight games in Olympic play, a streak dating back to 1992.
–Field Level Media
