Team USA first hit the Olympic stage in 1984, and since then, it has returned with a gold medal 9 out of 11 times. This season, the team is on a quest for its eighth consecutive gold. At their current pace, it seems Team USA might accomplish its goal soon. On 1st August, the American team marked its 57th Olympic win against the Belgian Cats. Impressed by the selected roster, a selection committee member could not help but cheer every step.

Dawn Staley, the 2004 Olympic flag bearer for the USA, has been an active member of the cheer squad this year. Right from the opening ceremony, Staley, who arrived as a member of the Presidential delegation, has ensured to acknowledge every event by the nation possible; including the flag bearers. “Let’s freaking gooo!! #USABWNT,” she tweeted as Team USA took on Japan on the 29th. Further, as Chelsea Gray shined with 13 assists and A’ja Wilson with 24 points, she had a post for each.

Now as Team USA recorded an impressive 87-74 win against the Belgian Cats at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on August 1st, she did not hold back. “Great win ladies!!! @usabasketball See y’all in Paris!!!” penned Dawn Staley on X. Yes, with individual acknowledgment as well.

It wasn’t an easy win for Team USA who were intensely challenged by Belgium right from the 1st quarter tying 23-23. But as USA solidified the next to maintain the lead to the end, Breanna Stewart emerged a standout. The Liberty star contributed an impressive 26 points to the team’s total. “We wanted to control the points in the paint,” she added.

Stewart, 29, seemed unstoppable in the matchup as she also secured seven rebounds and made three blocks on Thursday. “Stew anyone?!!” Staley expressed while Wilson and Alyssa Thomas also received their shout outs ahead of the game. They finished with 24 and 8 points each.

Sure enough, the US players’ synergy must have been a spectacle in the game, especially as Team USA doesn’t play together as often as their opponents. But in the game against Belgium, Stewart found an unparalleled connection with Jewell Loyd and Sabrina Ionescu. However, playing together wasn’t the only moment to capture.

When the last few seconds of the game were remaining, Team USA’s Sabrina Ionescu took up the responsibility. She sealed the game with a final three-point conversion, and while doing so, she turned heads with the ‘shhh’ gesture she made to the pro-Belgian audience. What would be a better way to conclude a high-scoring game?

Team USA’s smarter approach as they aim for 2024 Paris Olympics gold

Group C’s second game was a planned battle by the American team. They registered a win for themselves by winning the rebounding battle 48-28, and everything else just followed. This rebounding strategy led Team USA to score as many points as possible. Despite finding a shot and playing better than their last game against Germany, the Belgians were handed a bitter loss.

Now, Belgium stands with a 0-2 record in Group C. Germany, on the other hand, recorded 2-0 by winning over Japan’s women’s basketball team earlier on Thursday. Both Team USA and Team Germany stand next to each other in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tournament. Now, both teams will fight for the third position.

However, the Belgian Cats still have a chance. They can also join the American and German teams in the quarterfinals, and for that, they need a win against Japan on Sunday with a differential score enough to make it through. Now the question is: Will Team USA, vying for their eighth consecutive medal, be able to add another? Will the Belgian Cats be able to better their last-time 7th rank in the Olympics? Stay tuned to find out!

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection Silas Demary Jr.