In a commanding performance at the Pierre Mauroy stadium, the United States women's basketball team secured a significant 102-76 win against Japan during their opening match of the Olympic tournament. Captained by Diana Taurasi, who is participating in her sixth Olympic Games, the U.S. demonstrated their dominance on the court, featuring standout players like A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.

A'ja Wilson was particularly impressive, leading the American squad with 24 points, shooting 10-of-16 while also contributing 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Stepping up as well, Breanna Stewart scored 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting along with eight rebounds and three assists. Despite a close first half where the U.S. held only an 11-point lead, they pulled away in the third quarter, outscoring Japan 29-18.

From the bench, Team USA received valuable contributions, with Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kelsey Plum each scoring 11 points. This match marked Griner's return to Olympic play after being detained in Russia for 10 months, and she added nine rebounds in just 16 minutes on the court. For Japan, Maki Takada emerged as a key player off the bench, notching 24 points. Mai Yamamoto also made her mark with 17 points, and Saori Mayazaki contributed 12 points.

Looking ahead, Team USA will face Belgium on Thursday and Germany on Sunday in their Group C matches. On the same day, the tournament witnessed surprising results, notably Belgium's loss to debuting Germany, which was led by the powerful Sabally sisters who accumulated significant points. Additionally, the host nation, France, achieved a stunning victory against Canada, while Nigeria upset Australia in another surprising turn of events, showcasing the competitive nature of the tournament.