Starting in “diesel” mode for the UNITED STATES facing theGermanyThe “Mannschaft” thus begins with a 5-0 and if Breanna Stewart finally gets Team USA going, her teammates have a hard time getting started.
Leonie Fiebich took advantage and, at 15-6, Cheryl Reeve decided to call a time-out to wake up her troops.
As is often the case, the rotations expose the American density, superior to that of their opponents. Back to 19-16 after ten minutes, the Americans cause a lot of turnovers, Satou Sabally and Alexi Peterson accumulating 9 turnovers in the first half, and the United States can therefore take control of the match.
At half-time, A'ja Wilson and her teammates were thus ahead (41-29), despite a fair few mix-ups in the transmissions and a general impression that was not particularly impressive.
Jackie Young raises her voice
Sabrina Ionescu is on the field to start the second half, and to energize the first five a little, but, as at the beginning of the match, it is sluggish on the American side. Once again, it is when the substitutes are on the field that things go faster for Team USA, with Kelsey Plum in particular doing a lot of good.
Even though naturalized Alexis Peterson seemed over-motivated against her American “compatriots”, the United States inexorably slipped away, and a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Jackie Young put them at +23 (69-46) after 30 minutes.
The Las Vegas Aces shooter continues her show and Team USA can therefore calmly manage the end of the match.
With this third victory (87-68) in three outings, the United States obviously finish at the top of their Group and, with their large “point average”, they now have a good chance of meeting China in the quarter-finals, if France wins in the wake of this against Australia.
Photo credit: FIBA
