After a dominant win against Japan to open their Olympic games, the U.S. women’s team was back in action with their second game of the group phase against Belgium. They marched to a strong 87–74 victory.
In February, the United States played Belgium in the qualifying tournament and had their hands full, winning by only two. That was a home game for Belgium in Antwerp and the United States struggled shooting. They made only four of 19 from three-point range and shot only 51.2 percent from two-point range.
As was the case in their first win, the United States got off to a good start offensively, with Chelsea Gray setting up Breanna Stewart and A’Ja Wilson for early baskets. But Belgium was able to trade baskets with the United States.
Stewart was carrying the load for the United States offensively. She scored 11 of the first 15 points, including a three to break a tie game. After the Americans built a lead, Julie Vanloo went on a personal 8–0 run punctuated by a deep three that gave Belgium a 19–17 lead and got the crowd to its feet.
With Belgium up four, Britney Griner hit a contested putback to end the run and cut the lead in half. The U.S. bench turned up their defensive intensity and turned it into baskets in the final minute of the first quarter. Alyssa Thomas tied the game, and Sabrina Ionescu finished a break off a steal to give the United States the lead back at 23–21.
But two free throws for Belgium closed the opening 10 minutes with the game tied at 23. Belgium shot 50 percent on 8-of-16 shooting in the first quarter. The United States held a 13–6 rebound advantage but was 8 of 20 from the floor (including just one of four from three-point range).
Thomas started to assert herself on the offensive end, both scoring and rebounding, as the second quarter remained close.
Stewart returned to the game in the middle of the second, and the United States was able to push its lead out to double digits, thanks to Stewart, Thomas, and Wilson dominating the glass. The U.S. bench was also superb, outscoring Belgium’s reserves 19–2 at the mid-point of the second quarter.
The final two minutes of the first half were sloppy and the United States took an eight-point lead to the intermission. Wilson struggled at times to find her offense—she had a team-high five turnovers in the first half but had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in 17:33 of the first 20 minutes. Stewart was dominant, missing only her final two shots en route to a 15-point half.
Jewell Lloyd had a team-leading plus-15 rating in just 8:58 off the bench to help the United States effort. The Americans’ bench outscored Belgium’s 21-4 in the first half. The United States also had a 29–11 advantage on the glass. Importantly, the United States held Belgium to just 2-of-13 from three-point range.
Belgium took some of their late momentum from the late stages of the first half into the start of the second and cut the lead to six before Wilson answered. Two free throws from Stewart pushed the lead back to 10, and Belgium continued to miss open looks from beyond the arc while the United States was willing to continue weaponizing its advantage inside.
A couple of American turnovers turned into baskets for their opponents, and the game was squeezed back to just four. A renewed commitment to the defensive end ballooned the lead back to 11 for the United States as Wilson and Stewart continued to dominate. After a timeout, Belgium was able to score four unanswered again to cut the lead back to seven.
At the end of three quarters, the United States led 60–53. For the Americans, 33 of their 60 points were from Wilson (14) and Stewart (19). Emma Meesseman had a game-high 20 points and played 28:15 of the first 30 minutes for Belgium. Vanloo (11) was the only other player for Belgium in double figures. The United States enjoyed a 41–18 rebound advantage at the start of the fourth quarter.
But Belgium simply refused to go away quietly.
When the fourth quarter started, the United States extended its defense and made life miserable for Belgium, which tried to move the ball and get off a clean shot. Kelsey Plum’s first basket of the game came three minutes into the fourth quarter, giving the United States a 68–55 lead at the first timeout.
The crowd started to vocally get behind Belgium as they climbed back to within six before a four-point run by Wilson and two baskets from Stewart quieted the noise. Two of the baskets came off steals, and Stewart continued her strong game, leading a break and taking one to the hoop for a layup.
Kyara Linskens fouled out for Belgium with 3:27 left, taking an effective presence in the lane out of the lineup. And the Americans’ lead was already in double figures. Belgium started getting increasingly physical with Wilson every time she touched the ball in the paint, forcing her to earn her points from the charity stripe.
As the physical play continued, Belgium coach Rachid Meziane was called for a technical foul with 1:49 remaining in the game, as Billie Massey picked up her fourth foul. The offensive efficiency from the American second unit continued, and their dominance in rebounding the ball kept Belgium from getting the game closer than 10 in the closing minutes.
A deep three from Ionescu closed the books on the game.
For the United States, Stewart led the way with 26 points. She added seven rebounds and three blocks. Wilson scored 23 with 13 rebounds and three steals. They were the only Americans in double figures in the game. The United States out-rebounded Belgium 48–28 in the game.
For Belgium, Antonia Elaere finished with 16 points, with Vanloo scoring 11 and Meesseman scoring 24. Meeseman played all but 105 seconds of the game.
With the win, the United States punches their ticket to the quarterfinals.
