The U.S. ladies’s basketball workforce faces Germany within the closing recreation of pool play tomorrow, August 4th at 11:15am. Each groups are 2-0 and have already clinched a spot within the ladies’s quarterfinals, however this recreation — and the purpose differential — will assist decide seeding for the precise bracket play. The winner of the US-Germany recreation will take first in Group C, a bunch that additionally contains Japan and Belgium.
Right here’s what you’ll want to find out about Sunday’s matchup.
That is Germany’s first Olympic recreation, they usually’ve surpassed expectations to this point
Germany’s ladies’s basketball workforce has by no means certified for the Olympics earlier than, however from watching them this week, you’d by no means guess. Germany began Olympic play with an upset win over Belgium, the 2023 EuroBasket champions who additionally practically defeated the U.S.
Satou Sabally, who’s missed your entire WNBA season to this point recovering from shoulder surgical procedure, appears to be again to pre-injury kind. She exploded for 33 factors on 11-17 capturing in a 75-64 win over Japan on Friday, after scoring 17 factors in her Olympic debut in opposition to Belgium.
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Photograph by Ryan Stetz/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Her sister, the Liberty’s Nyara Sabally, was additionally efficient in opposition to Belgium, scoring 16 factors on 6-7 capturing. However, suffered a head harm in that one, and missed the next match-up with Japan. Her standing for Sunday’s recreation is unsure.
Leonie Fiebich, a rookie ahead on the Liberty, was additionally key for Germany — she started Olympic play with 16 factors on 6-9 capturing in opposition to Belgium, and adopted that up with a 6-point, 6-assist, 6-rebound outing in opposition to Japan.
Satou Bally and Leonie Fiebich, together with the remainder of Group Germany, should be on their A-games if Germany stands an opportunity to upset USA.
The U.S. blew out Germany when the 2 groups competed in a pre-Olympic pleasant
When the 2 groups confronted off in exhibition play, the US dominated, handily defeating Germany 84-57. Wilson led the way in which with 19 factors and 14 rebounds in that one, and the U.S. led from begin to end. Satou Sabally struggled in her first recreation again from harm, capturing simply 3-17 from the sphere. She’s been lots higher since that opening recreation, which may very well be a difference-maker on this one.
Three-point capturing was key in that one, as America hit 11 threes to Germany’s 6. In that one, Luisa Geiselsoder led the way in which for Germany with 15 factors on 7-11 capturing. Germany should be extra environment friendly from behind the arc to make this a aggressive recreation.
Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson are already off to a historic begin
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Photograph by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE through Getty Pictures
Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson — two of essentially the most dominant gamers in ladies’s basketball — have shaped a dominant frontcourt to this point. Wilson is averaging 23.5 factors and 13 rebounds by means of two video games, whereas Stewart is averaging 24 factors 7.4 rebounds. It’s the primary time in historical past that two U.S. ladies have scored 20+ factors in every of their first two Olympic basketball video games.
Teammates have expressed that Wilson and Stewart have each been the workforce’s two leaders within the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“They each lead by instance,” Napheesa Collier stated, per ESPN. “You’ll be able to see how laborious they work and their mentality which is actually enjoyable to see, simply how dominant they’re.”
Whereas Group USA is 2-0, they path France in general level differential (Group USA is +39, France is +42). So, the result of Sunday’s recreation — and the precise potential differential — may have seeding implications. USA will go for 58 consecutive Olympic victories on this one.
The sport suggestions off at 11:15am on Sunday, August 4th. No matter Sunday’s final result, each the U.S. and Germany will compete within the quarterfinals on Wednesday, August seventh.
