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USA vs. Belgium women’s basketball live updates: Team USA facing challenge in pool play in France

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USA vs. Belgium women’s basketball live updates: Team USA facing challenge in pool play in France

The U.S. women’s basketball team made short work of Japan in a 102-76 win in its Olympic opener, and now Team USA will turn its attention to Belgium at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Belgian side lost in its opening matchup to Germany, 83-69, on Monday. For the U.S., A’ja Wilson (24 points, 13 rebounds) and Breanna Stewart (22 points, 8 rebounds) did the heavy lifting in their first group play matchup. They led six Americans in double-figures as the team shot 54.5% from the floor.

The Belgian team is led by Emma Meesseman, who spent eight seasons in the WNBA and last played for the Chicago Sky in 2022, when she averaged just over 12 points per game. She had 25 points in the loss in the opener.

While being a heavy favorite comes with expectations, the pressure hasn’t ratcheted up just yet for Team USA, which enters the game as a 23.5-point favorite to win, per BetMGM.

  • Dates: Thursday, August 1

  • Location: Pierre Mauroy Stadium | Lille, France

  • TV channels: USA Network

  • Streaming: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com

Stay with Yahoo Sports for live updates and highlights of Team USA women’s basketball taking on Belgium in their second pool play match at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

Live20 updates

  • Emma Meesseman continues to be a problem for USA

    Emma Meesseman hits a short jumper in the lane, giving her 20 points for Bel

  • Napheesa Collier to the rescue

    Napheesa Collier has settled the game down for the U.S. She’s hit two consecutive jumpers – a long 2 and a 3 – to build USA’s lead back to 58–47.

  • USA finally stops Belgium’s run with Napheesa Collier finding A’ja Wilson in the lane for a layup. USA 52, Belgium 46 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

  • Belgium making a run, scoring the last six points to cut USA’s lead to 50–46. The U.S. is still having difficulty taking care of the ball and turnovers have let Belgium right back in this game.

    USA has 15 turnovers thus far.

    Emma Meesseman scored four points in this run. She now has 18.

  • U.S. assistant coach Mike Thibault says the pro-Belgium crowd is “getting the juices going,” talking to NBC’s Kerith Burke at halftime.

  • Neither team is shooting well from the outside. Team USA is 22% (2-for-9), while Belgium is shooting 15% (2-for-13).

  • Halftime: USA 46, Belgium 38

    The United States outscored Belgium 23–15 in the second quarter to take an eight-point lead into halftime.

    Breanna Stewart leads Team USA with 15, followed by 10 from A’ja Wilson. Emma Meesseman has 12 for Belgium.

    Bench play is the difference thus far. USA has 21 points from the reserves, led by Alyssa Thomas’ eight. Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka has four off Belgium’s bench, all on free throws.

  • Breanna Stewart finally missed

    Breanna Stewart was on her way to a perfect first half, but finally missed a 3-pointer.

    She is 6-for-7 from the field, 1-for-2 on 3s and 2-for-2 from the free-throw line for 15 points.

  • Team USA’s depth is starting to wear Belgium down. The bench is making a big difference with Jewell Loyd scoring the last five points. Alyssa Thomas has eight, Brittney Griner with six.

  • USA now with a double-digit lead

    The rest of the USA lineup is starting to pick it up. A’ja Wilson scored inside, followed by a 3-pointer from Jewell Loyd, pushing the U.S. to a 40–29 lead with 4:46 remaining in the second quarter.

  • Emma Meesseman now in double figures for Belgium

    Emma Meesseman has taken over the scoring load for Belgium after Julie Vanloo gave USA problems in the first quarter. She now has 10 points midway through the second quarter.

  • USA is pulling away just a bit, building an 8-point lead, 35–27. Alyssa Thomas providing a spark off the bench to give Breanna Stewart some scoring help.

  • Emma Meesseman hits a jumper from the corner as the U.S. is again slow on its defensive rotations, closing out on shooters.

  • Turnovers were a problem for Team USA in the first quarter with five. They had 12 total in their last game vs. Japan. That’s certainly helping Belgium stay competitive.

  • End of 1st quarter: USA 23, Belgium 23

    Team USA has a battle on their hands after the first quarter.

    Breanna Stewart has 11, but hasn’t found offense from anyone else yet. Julie Vanloo leads Belgium with seven points, but they’re spreading the scoring load around more.

  • USA ties the game 23–23 on the fast break with Alyssa Thomas finding Sabrina Ionescu on the wing for a layup.

  • Back to back 3s for Belgium Julie Vanloo

    Belgium takes a 20–17 lead on the second consecutive 3-pointer from Julie Vanloo, who plays for the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. USA has to look out there.

  • Julie Vanloo ties the score 17–17 with a 3-pointer for Belgium as the crowd roars

  • Beautiful no-look pass from Chelsea Gray to Breanna Stewart for a 10–8 USA lead!

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