Australia secured their spot in the women’s basketball semifinals at the Paris Olympics with a resounding 85-67 victory over Serbia. Jade Melbourne led the charge for the Opals, scoring 14 of her 18 points by halftime. Australia’s win, which avenged their quarterfinal loss to Serbia in the 2016 Rio Olympics, sets up a highly anticipated semifinal matchup against the United States on Friday. The Americans, aiming for an unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal, are on a 59-game winning streak since their last loss in 1992. They advanced to the semifinals with an 88-74 win over Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Belgium made history by reaching their first Olympic semifinal in their second appearance. The Cats dominated Spain, securing a 79-66 win. They will face France in the semifinals, who ended Germany’s Olympic debut. Belgium’s victory is even more impressive considering they played without point guard Julie Allemand, who suffered an ankle injury just before the opening ceremony, and center Becky Massey, who rolled her ankle in the third quarter. Emma Meesseman led Belgium with 19 points, including two early 3-pointers that set the tone for the game. Kyara Linskens also contributed 19 points.
Serbia, after a disappointing loss, is heading home early following their third consecutive Olympic appearance. They won bronze in their Olympic debut at the Rio Games and finished fourth in Tokyo. Serbia’s defeat was a heartbreaking end to their campaign, with players visibly emotional in the final minutes. The Americans notched their 59th straight victory since the program’s last loss in the 1992 Barcelona Games, and now they move into the semifinal against an old foe in Australia needing two more wins to do something no team has done in Olympic history. Host nation France, looking to improve upon their bronze medal from Tokyo, secured their semifinal berth with a convincing 74-60 victory over Germany. Marine Johannes led France with 24 points, while Gabby Williams added 15. France’s defense was a key factor in their victory, forcing 13 turnovers from Germany. They will face Belgium in the semifinals. Germany was without Nyara Sabally for most of the game due to a concussion and an injury suffered in the opening game of group play. She returned late in the game, scoring 20 points off the bench. The Paris Olympics continue to deliver thrilling competition in the women’s basketball tournament, with the semifinals set to be a showcase of the world’s best teams.
