USA Basketball goes for 58 consecutive Olympic wins in opposition to Germany tomorrow: right here’s what you could know

The U.S. girls’s basketball crew faces Germany within the ultimate sport of pool play tomorrow, August 4th at 11:15am. Each groups are 2-0 and have already clinched a spot within the girls’s quarterfinals, however this sport — and the purpose differential — will assist decide seeding for the precise bracket play. The winner of the US-Germany sport will take first in Group C, a gaggle that additionally contains Japan and Belgium.

Right here’s what you could find out about Sunday’s matchup.

That is Germany’s first Olympic sport, they usually’ve surpassed expectations thus far

Germany’s girls’s basketball crew 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 almost defeated the U.S.

Satou Sabally, who’s missed your entire WNBA season thus far recovering from shoulder surgical procedure, appears to be again to pre-injury type. 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.

Picture by Ryan Stetz/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

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 damage in that one, and missed the next match-up with Japan. Her standing for Sunday’s sport 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 Workforce Germany, must 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 sport again from damage, capturing simply 3-17 from the sector. She’s been lots higher since that opening sport, which could possibly 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 must be extra environment friendly from behind the arc to make this a aggressive sport.

Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson are already off to a historic begin

Picture by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson — two of probably the most dominant gamers in girls’s basketball — have fashioned a dominant frontcourt thus far. Wilson is averaging 23.5 factors and 13 rebounds by two video games, whereas Stewart is averaging 24 factors 7.4 rebounds. It’s the primary time in historical past that two U.S. girls 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 crew’s two leaders within the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“They each lead by instance,” Napheesa Collier mentioned, per ESPN. “You possibly can see how laborious they work and their mentality which is admittedly enjoyable to see, simply how dominant they’re.”

Whereas Workforce USA is 2-0, they path France in total level differential (Workforce USA is +39, France is +42). So, the result of Sunday’s sport — and the precise potential differential — could have seeding implications. USA will go for 58 consecutive Olympic victories on this one.

The sport ideas off at 11:15am on Sunday, August 4th. No matter Sunday’s consequence, each the U.S. and Germany will compete within the quarterfinals on Wednesday, August seventh.