Unstoppable Offense Leads U.S. Women's National Team Into Semifinals

Jack Maloney

Although the final score doesn’t reflect this fact, the U.S. Women’s National Team faced a stiff test from Japan Tuesday evening. The struggle over the first twenty-plus minutes was no fault of the offense however, which was humming right along all night. The U.S. poured in 110 points, tying their second-highest output of the tournament.

It was also the fifth time in six games in which the squad has gone over the century mark, matching the record for 100-point games in one Olympics set by the 1996 team at the Atlanta Olympics. It’s almost guaranteed that the team will have two games remaining, pretty much making it a foregone conclusion that the 2016 bunch will set a new record in that category.

Once again, the women were also efficient in going about their work, knocking down 47/72 shots from the field. The 65 percent clip was tied for their highest shooting percentage in Rio, as they continue to get easy looks at the basket night in and night out.

Furthermore, the performance showcased the team’s excellent depth, as seven different players scored in double figures. Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore dropped 19 each, Angel McCoughtry scored 13, Elena Delle Donne added 11, and three Lynx, Sylvia Fowles, Seimone Augustus, and Lindsay Whalen chipped in 10 apiece.

The fact that every player on the roster can put up points in a hurry has been well addressed, but tonight we got the chance to see it in action.

As Elena Delle Donne said postgame, “I think there are a lot of great teams here, but I don’t think there are any team that has 12 incredible players like we do. And the depth can really wear people out.” It certainly wore the Japanese out, as the Americans outscored them 54-18 in the second half.

Now, the U.S. will have the opportunity to put their incredible mirth of offensive talent on display in the semifinals, as they march ever closer to a sixth straight gold medal.

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