July 30th 2024.
The USA women's basketball team had a clear goal in mind as they stepped onto the court in Paris on July 29: to bring home the gold medal. Their first game was against Japan, and before the team could even secure a resounding victory, a Japanese fan grabbed everyone's attention with a cleverly crafted sign. The fan, dressed in a half Brooklyn Nets, half Los Angeles Lakers jersey, held up a sign that read, "You need Caitlin Clark to beat us." It was a bold statement, possibly meant to rattle the USA team or highlight the controversy surrounding the exclusion of one of the WNBA's rookies. The sign caught the eye of Las Vegas Aces' A'Ja Wilson, who couldn't help but show it to her teammate, Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner, exclaiming, "Oh, wow!"
Needless to say, the players were taken aback by the sign's message. A video captured the moment when Wilson brought the sign to Griner's attention, and the reaction was one of surprise. But as it turned out, the team didn't need Clark to secure a dominant 102-76 win over Japan. According to NBC News, the USA team had no trouble securing their victory, with Wilson leading the way with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks. Breanna Stewart of the New York Liberty also had a strong performance with 22 points and eight rebounds. Griner, along with the Aces' Kelsey Plum and the Mercury's Sabrina Ionescu, each contributed 11 points to keep Japan at bay. And let's not forget Chelsea Gray, who had an impressive 13 assists and also plays with Wilson and Plum on the Aces.
Up next for Team USA is a matchup against Belgium on Aug. 1 at 3:00 p.m. As the team continues their journey towards the gold medal, the support of their fans and their incredible talent will surely carry them through. Speaking of incredible talent, in other news, Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury has finally had her jersey retired by the University of Baylor. It's a well-deserved honor for the accomplished player, and we can't wait to see what she and the rest of Team USA will accomplish in the upcoming games.
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