The Paris 2024 Summer Games for Women's Basketball will officially begin on July 28th. Before the 10-team field travels to France, many of them opted to compete against each other in exhibition games. Here's a list of the exhibition results from Tuesday, July 23.
Australia falls to Canada
Despite the efforts of Seattle Storm’s Ezi Magbegor and Sami Whitcomb, Australia finished its Olympic preparations with a 77-74 loss to Canada.
Magbegor shot 47.5% from the field, totaling nine points, five rebounds and two assists. Whitcomb connected on 3-of-7 from beyond the arc to contribute nine points, three rebounds, and two assists. Current Washington Mystics point guard and former Storm reserve Jade Melbourne was the top scorer with 23 points. She added five rebounds and four assists.
Australia and Canada will meet again on August 1, the second day of Olympic action for Group B at 7:30 a.m. ET/4:30 a.m. PT.
Team USA edges Germany 84-57 in sole international showcase
There was no looking back after the United States opened its final exhibit before the Olympics with a 7-0 run over a 2:15 span on the way to beating Germany 84-57.
A'ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces) led Team USA with 19 points in her 25 minutes of action. New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart led her team with 31 minutes and tallied a second-best 15 points, as well as six rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. Liberty teammate Sabrina Ionescu went 2-for-5 from the 3-point line and 2-for-2 in free throws to tally eight points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
Seattle Storm representative Jewell Loyd finished in double-digit scoring with 11 points on 4-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. Loyd also had two steals, one rebound, one assist, and one block.
Black Rosie Media founder Erica L. Ayala was on-site in London and collected quotes from Team USA. She spoke to Team USA players Stewart, Ionescu, Loyd, and Alyssa Thomas. Here are quotes from Team USA after they defeated Germany:
Jewell Loyd on the win over Germany in London:
Obviously, we're still building a lot of stuff but always feels way better gonna dub. I feel like our energy was better. And you know, as we're just building a great days up here.
Sabrina Ionescu on playing against her Liberty teammates:
Nyara made a free throw and I accidentally started clapping, because I just wasn't used to seeing her in a different uniform. I tried to play it off.
But obviously super excited her, Satou being able to play with her, Leo(nie Fiebich) being able to be teammates with them. It being their first time (at the Olympics) as well and knowing how special it is.
I know how I feel being able to represent my country and so I know that that's how they feel as well and to be able to see how well they played with their team. Just really happy and proud of them.
Alyssa Thomas on the USA travel from WNBA All-Star Weekend to London:
Oh, it was long. Phoenix was a lot of days– All-Star and USA is waa lot to balance. I think most of us slept the whole flight ... we got here about 5:30-6 pm (local time on Sunday), had the night to sleep, next day was right to practice.
New York Liberty players Nyara and Leonie both started against the United States, so too did Satou Sabally, who hasn't played for the Dallas Wings yet this season while recovering from a shoulder injury suffered during Olympic Qualifiers.
"Satou is incredible," Germany head coach Lisa Thomaidis told the media Tuesday night in London. "She hasn't played a game in five months– that was her first game, that's her first five-on-five, and to come out and be able to run with those players and to compete like she does. I mean, she's a winner. She's a competitor."
Thomaidis added that while the elder Sabally wasn't yet to the fitness level she was at before her injury, there is no concern she won't be able to progress and feel more herself within a week's time. Germany opens their first-ever Olympic Tournament on July 27th when they face Japan.
Both the United States and Germany are in Group C and will face off again on August 4. Tip-off is set for 11:15 a.m. ET/8:15 a.m. PT.
Erica L. Ayala contributed to this story.
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