After being tested in the first half, it was business as usual for the United States women’s national team as they cruised to a win over Japan to open the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Team USA made the most of the size advantage it held over its opponent as A’ja Wilson’s dominance on the interior set the tone. Wilson finished with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds while Breanna Stewart added 22 points and eight boards. Setting the table for Team USA was point guard Chelsea Gray, who dished out 11 of her 13 assists in the first half. The Americans assisted on 35 of their 41 field goals.
After winning silver at the Tokyo Games, Japan showed why it will again be a tough out in 2024. The team’s frenetic style of play coupled with their ability to shoot from beyond the arc make them a handful for any opponent.
Team USA will have two days off before returning to action on Thursday when they face Belgium in another group play game. The Sporting News tracked live score updates and highlights from throughout the U.S. women's 2024 Olympic opener.
MORE: Which WNBA players are competing at the Paris Olympic Games?
USA vs. Japan basketball score
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
| USA | 22 | 28 | 29 | 23 | 102 |
| Japan | 15 | 24 | 18 | 19 | 76 |
USA vs. Japan live updates, results, highlights from 2024 Olympic women's basketball exhibition game
(All times Eastern.)
Final: USA 102, Japan 76
4:34 p.m.: Kahleah Copper joins the party and all 12 members of Team USA's roster have scored in the game. The lead has now ballooned to 32 points with 2:18 remaining.
Timeout Japan.
USA 100, Japan 68
4:27 p.m.: Liberty teammates Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart connect in transition to put Team USA up by 27.
Stewart is up to 22 points in the game and Japan has called for a timeout with 5:24 to play.
USA 91, Japan 64
4:22 p.m.: It's important to remember that point differential is key during this tournament. Team USA is going to pull away for the win but Japan is still making pushes.
Japan gets a transition layup but still trails by 22 points. A'ja Wilson will check back in for one more stint likely.
USA 86, Japan 64
End of third quarter: USA 79, Japan 57
4:16 p.m.: Three quarters are in the books and Team USA leads by 22 points.
A'ja Wilson (24 points and 12 rebounds) and Breanna Stewart (20 points and eight rebounds) have been dominant as has Chelsea Gray, who has dished out 13 assists in 20 minutes of action.
Mai Yamamoto's 14 points lead the way for Japan while Maki Takada has scored 11.
Japan (12-of-32) still has the 3-point advantage over Team USA (1-of-13) but it hasn't made much of a difference as the Americans are beginning to pull away.
4:07 p.m.: Brittney Griner finds a cutting Sabrina Ionescu, who gives Team USA a 20-point lead with 3:18 left in the third.
Timeout Japan.
USA 69, Japan 49
4:06 p.m.: Mass substitutions for Team USA, which leads by 18 points after a bucket from Brittney Griner.
3:30 remains in the third.
USA 67, Japan 49
4:01 p.m.: It's been an impactful start to the second half for Team USA, which leads by 17 after a quick 6-0 run to start the half.
Chelsea Gray is up to 12 assists with seven minutes left in the half.
USA 56, Japan 42
Halftime: USA 50, Japan 39
3:43 p.m.: It's an 11-point lead for Team USA at the halftime break.
A'ja Wilson leads the way with 17 points and seven rebounds but Breanna Stewart isn't far behind with 14 points and six rebounds. Chelsea Gray has 11 assists in the first half and Team USA has assisted 19 of its 22 field goals.
Chelsea Gray dished out 11 assists in the first half of the USA's matchup with Japan. She passed her Olympic game high of 8 which came in 2021 during the USA's quarterfinal matchup against Australia.#Paris2024
— USA Basketball Communications (@USABcomms) July 29, 2024
Japan's 3-point shooting has kept it in the game. The team is shooting 9-of-22 from distance while Team USA is just 1-of-12 from deep.
Mai Yamamoto leads the way for Japan with 11 points.
3:35 p.m.: Japan will not go away. Thanks in large part to their energy and 3-point shooting, Japan's women's team trails by six points with 2:42 remaining in the half.
Japan has canned eight triples and attempted over 20 with time left to play in the half.
USA 38, Japan 32
3:30 p.m.: Kahleah Copper is down on the floor in evident pain.
Copper just checked in for her first 5-on-5 Olympic action and went down after taking a shot to the midsection. She's been checked out of the game but remains on the bench, a welcome sight for Team USA and Phoenix Mercury fans.
Team USA leads by nine points with four minutes left in the half.
USA 36, Japan 27
3:25 p.m.: Team USA's height advantage over Japan is … evident.
Team USA goes on an 8-0 run to push the lead back to double digits. In addition to A'ja Wilson's 10 points, Breanna Stewart has six points and Brittney Griner has scored five points to go along with five rebounds (three offensive).
Timeout Japan, which trails by 12 points with 7:34 left in the second quarter.
USA 30, Japan 18
End of first quarter: USA 22, Japan 15
3:18 p.m.: Team USA takes a seven-point lead into the second quarter after staying in control throughout the first.
A'ja Wilson leads the way with an early 10 points (on 5-of-9 shooting) while Kelsey Plum scored a quick five points in less than five minutes of action.
Team USA’s ball movement 🤌 #ParisOlympics
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 29, 2024
📺 USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/7v3w4MA5jo
Japan is led by five points from Himawari Akaho. Team USA is dominating on the offensive glass but have yet to get going from deep.
3:15 p.m.: The pace has been frenetic and Japan continues to cut into the deficit each time Team USA looks to build momentum.
After Brittney Griner splits a pair of free throws, Team USA leads by five points with 1:17 left.
USA 20, Japan 15
3:11 p.m.: Japan has come to play.
Napheesa Collier has picked up two quick fouls and Japan briefly cut the deficit to three points before a response from Kelsey Plum. After back-to-back buckets from Plum, Team USA is back up by eight with 3:10 remaining in the quarter.
USA 17, Japan 9
3:08 p.m.: It's been a lot of A'ja Wilson for Team USA early on.
Wilson is having her way on the interior and has eight points in under five minutes of action. Team USA has an early eight-point lead with 5:20 left in the first.
USA 12, Japan 4
3:02 p.m.: Game on.
A'ja Wilson gets Team USA on the board first and the Americans' pursuit of gold is officially underway.
Pregame
2:55 p.m.: The first five are in for Team USA: Chelsea Gray, Diana Taurasi, Napheesa Collier, Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson will start vs. Japan.
Starting for Japan: Saori Miyazaki, Mai Yamamoto, Saki Hayashi, Stephanie Mawuli and Evelyn Mawuli.
2:50 p.m.: One step closer to tip-off.
Final pregame preparations are being put forth as USA and Japan are preparing to take the floor.
Gold dreams.
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 29, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABWNT vs 🇯🇵 Japan
📺 @USANetwork + @peacock#Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/aEHEh4togc
1. p.m.: The seven-time defending Olympic gold medalists are on the way.
Tip-off for the Olympic opener for the U.S. women's basketball team is a little over two hours away.
On our way to 📍 Pierre Mauroy Stadium!
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 29, 2024
🇺🇸 #USABWNT vs 🇯🇵 Japan
🕒 9 pm CEST/3 pm ET
📺 @USANetwork @peacock #Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/nEE1sf6Cq5
How to watch USA vs. Japan at 2024 Paris Olympics
- Date: Monday, July 29
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV channel: USA Network
- Livestream: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, Fubo
Fans can watch Team USA take on Japan on USA Network on Monday, July 29 at 3 p.m. ET. For those streaming the game, Peacock and NBCOlympics.com will broadcast the match. Fubo is also available and has a free trial.
Women's Olympic basketball schedule 2024
Sunday, July 28
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group A | Spain vs. China | 7:30 a.m. |
| Group A | Serbia vs. Puerto Rico | 3 p.m. |
Monday, July 29
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group B | Nigeria vs. Australia | 5 a.m. |
| Group C | Germany vs. Belgium | 7:30 a.m. |
| Group B | Canada vs. France | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group C | USA vs. Japan | 3 p.m. |
Wednesday, July 31
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group A | Puerto Rico vs. Spain | 5 a.m. |
| Group A | China vs. Serbia | 7:30 a.m. |
Thursday, Aug. 1
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group C | Japan vs. Germany | 5 a.m. |
| Group B | Australia vs. Canada | 7:30 a.m. |
| Group B | France vs. Nigeria | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group C | USA vs. Belgium | 3 p.m. |
Saturday, Aug. 3
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group A | China vs. Puerto Rico | 5 a.m. |
| Group A | Serbia vs. Spain | 7:30 a.m. |
Sunday, Aug. 4
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Group C | Japan vs. Belgium | 5 a.m. |
| Group B | Canada vs. Nigeria | 7:30 a.m. |
| Group C | USA vs. Germany | 11:15 a.m. |
| Group B | Australia vs. France | 3 p.m. |
Wednesday, Aug. 7
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | 5 a.m. |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 a.m. |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | Noon |
| Quarterfinal | TBD vs. TBD | 3:30 p.m. |
Friday, Aug. 9
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Semifinal | TBD vs. TBD | 11:30 a.m. |
| Semifinal | TBD vs. TBD | 3 p.m. |
Sunday, Aug. 11
| Round | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| Bronze medal game | TBD vs. TBD | 5:45 a.m. |
| Gold medal game | TBD vs. TBD | 9:30 a.m. |
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