2024 Paris Olympics women's basketball: Team USA defeats Germany, will face Nigeria in quarterfinals

Team USA runs its Olympics' winning streak to 58 games

The United States picked up an 87-68 victory against Germany and finished group play as the top team in Group C with a 3-0 record. This became the Americans' 58th consecutive Olympic victory.

Their journey to an eighth consecutive gold medal is alive and well. The next step will be the quarterfinals, which are set to take place on Wednesday, Aug. 7. The United States will face Nigeria in the last game of the day at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson were the top two contributors in the first two games in Paris, and they were still key players on Sunday with 14 and 13 points, respectively, as well as some strong defensive plays. However, the game truly belonged to Jackie Young.

The Las Vegas Aces guard came off the bench and wrapped up the day with 19 points while shooting 7 of 13 from the field, including five 3-pointers. She also added four rebounds, two assists and two steals. As a whole, the United States' bench outscored Germany's 52-13, but this was not much of a surprise for Alyssa Thomas -- who started on the bench and contributed with six points, three rebounds, five assists and one steal.

"I'm I knew we had a lot of depth. We play against each other all year round in the [WNBA]," said Thomas in the USA Network broadcast. "We didn't have the greatest start today, but that's the luxury we have with this team."

The Americans were off to a slow start and fell behind by nine points early in the game. They bounced back by outscoring Germany 25-10 in the second quarter and kept that momentum going after the break.

Germany was dealt a blow in the third quarter when Leonie Fiebich appeared to injure her right shoulder when she slipped and crashed into Team USA's Alyssa Thomas. She headed to the bench while the Americans completed a 10-0 run in the third quarter and never allowed Germany to truly get back into the game. The Germans' efforts were led by Satou Sabally and Alexis Peterson with 15 and 14 points, respectively.

Should the Americans advance, they would face the winner of Australia-Serbia on Friday. The other side of the bracket will feature games between Spain and Belgium as well as Germany and France. The championship game will be Sunday, the last day of the Paris Games.

[Aug 4, 2024 at 1:03 pm ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

Final: United States 87, Germany 68

The Americans won their 58th consecutive Olympic game and are one step closer to an eight consecutive gold medal after completing group play with a 3-0 record. Up next, they will participate in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart once again reached double figures, putting up 14 and 13 points, respectively. However, if there is one thing that must be highlighted in the matchup against Germany, it is that this was undoubtedly the Jackie Young game. The Las Vegas Aces guard came off the bench and had a breakout performance with 19 points going 7-for-13 from the field, including five 3-pointers. As a whole, the United State's bench outscored Germany's 52-13. 

[Aug 4, 2024 at 12:36 pm ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

End of 3Q: United States 69, Germany 46

The Americans wrapped up the third quarter with a 10-0 run. The last few seconds were electric as Jackie Young hit a 3-pointer when the clock was running out. She has 11 points so far, while Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson have 13 and 12 points, respectively. 

The Germans started off the quarter matching the Americans' energy, but they took a hit when Leonie Fiebich appeared to hurt her right shoulder late in the quarter and had to leave the court.

[Aug 4, 2024 at 12:27 pm ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

Germany's Leonie Fiebich slipped and appeared to hit her right shoulder while bumping against Team USA's Alyssa Thomas. She heads to the bench with 2:23 remaining in the third quarter. 

[Aug 4, 2024 at 12:14 pm ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

Team USA assistant coach Joni Taylor on the USA Network broadcast when asked about the second quarter:

"We were able to get out and run in transition. I thought our second group did a great job at getting deflections. We were more physical and it allowed us to open a little bit. Holding them to 10 points in the second quarter was really good."

[Aug 4, 2024 at 12:03 pm ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

Halftime: United States 41, Germany 29

The Americans overcame a slow start and outscored Germany 25-10 in the second quarter to enter the break with a double-digit lead. This game has seen a balanced Team USA effort so far with eight players contributing at least two points. Per usual, Breanna Stewart is leading all scorers with 11 points going 5-for-9 from the field, while A'ja Wilson is right behind her with eight points. 

Germany's offense is being led by Leonie Fiebich and Satou Sabally with eight and seven points, respectively. However, they were both held scoreless in the second quarter. The Germans led by as many as nine points in the first quarter but they have registered 15 turnovers compared to just eight for the United States. Despite shooting over 53% from the field in the first 10 minutes, they cooled off when the Americans turned up the heat defensively. 

[Aug 4, 2024 at 11:43 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

The United States seems to be finding its rhythm. The Americans are leading 26-22 four minutes into the second quarter after two layups from Alyssa Thomas.

[Aug 4, 2024 at 11:37 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

End of 1Q: Germany 19, United States 16

The Americans are off to a bit of a shaky start as they are shooting just 36.8% from the field, while Germany is over 53%. The Germans have led by as many as nine points, but Team USA is still in a good position. 

Germany's Leonie Fiebich is leading all scorers with eight points, with teammate Satou Sabally contributing with seven points. The Americans are led by Breanna Stewart's six points.

[Aug 4, 2024 at 11:08 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

If this opponent sounds familiar it is because the United States faced Germany just two weeks ago for an exhibition game in London ahead of the Paris Olympics. The Americans took a 84-57 victory thanks to solid group effort and an outstanding double-double by A'ja Wilson with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

The Las Vegas Aces star has been one of the key players for Team USA early in these Olympics, along with New York Liberty's Breanna Stewart. The lethal duo combined for 49 points and 20 rebounds in the 87-74 win against Belgium on Thursday, 

[Aug 4, 2024 at 10:44 am ET · Isabel Gonzalez]

The United States will take on Germany today in the last game of the group play of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Both are 2-0 so far and have already locked in their spots for the quarterfinals as the top two teams in the Group C standings.

The Americans are chasing an eight consecutive gold medal and have not lost a single game in the Olympics since the semifinals of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Things are much different for the Germans, as they are making their Olympic debut.