The USA team will be up against Nigeria in the quarterfinals of Olympic basketball on Wednesday. Breanna Stewart, a crucial player for Team USA, showed her admiration for Nigeria’s progress and accomplishments in the sport before the match, emphasizing the growing equality in global women’s basketball.
“Huge respect for Nigeria for their achievements. I believe they have always been competitive,” Stewart stated according to a report by Doug Feinberg from The Associated Press. “In major tournaments like World Cups, they always give us a tough challenge. It just goes to prove how the sport is expanding and the balance between us and the rest of the world.”
This upcoming showdown is not the first meeting between the two sides. They previously clashed at the Tokyo Olympics kick-off in 2021, where the U.S. secured a tight nine-point win, one of the closest games in their 58-game Olympic winning streak. Furthermore, they competed in February at an Olympic qualifying event, where the U.S. won dominantly with a score of 100-46.
Nigeria has progressed significantly by becoming the first African nation to reach the Olympic basketball quarterfinals. Their journey at the Paris Olympics has been impressive, with victories over Australia and Canada during pool play. These wins have displayed Nigeria’s aggressive and robust defensive style, which has caused trouble for various top teams.
USA and Nigeria’s Past Meetings
Napheesa Collier, another standout player for Team USA, recognized Nigeria’s achievements.
“It’s remarkable to see their progress. My roots are in Africa. Witnessing African nations excel and achieve higher ranks in sports is remarkable,” Collier mentioned. “I am genuinely thrilled for them.”
Nevertheless, Collier and her teammates are determined to halt Nigeria’s success story in the elimination round.
“They have a strong and aggressive game plan,” Collier remarked. “Therefore, we need to execute solid team defense and disrupt their strategies effectively.”
The respect between the teams is mutual, but Nigeria is far from being intimidated. Their strong defense was evident in their match against the USA in Tokyo, where they forced 25 turnovers. This defensive intensity has been a key feature of Nigeria’s performance in the Paris Olympics, creating challenges for Australia, France, and Canada.
Ezinne Kalu, a guard for Nigeria, stressed their defensive mindset.
“When we step onto the court, it’s all or nothing. No team can defend like us, and that’s what drives us forward,” Kalu stated after their win against Australia.
Image Source: Breanna Stewart @ Instagram
