Team USA to face plenty of physicality as it seeks eighth consecutive gold

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LILLE, France — Diana Taurasi saw it coming. 

Two days before the U.S. women’s basketball team opened pool play against Japan, six-time Olympian Taurasi was talking with teammates Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson about the last time they all played together, in Tokyo, and how hard their first game of pool play was at that Olympics. 

That was an 81-72 win over Nigeria. This time it was a 102-76 win over Japan that stayed close in the first half, mostly because of Japan’s nine 3s (the Japanese hit six in the second half, shooting 15-for-39 from long distance for the game). 

Taurasi’s warning to everyone the other day: “Those last (seven titles) don’t promise you anything going forward.”

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The Americans are going for a record eighth consecutive gold medal. It’s easy to assume that because they’ve dominated in the modern era — the U.S. has not lost an Olympic game since 1992 — it will be a cakewalk to the medal stand. 

But that is not so, and Monday night proved it. 

The international game is absurdly physical at the women’s senior level. Just ask Kah Copper, who got nailed going for a rebound in the first half and stayed on the floor for a few minutes. Or Sabrina Ionescu (11 points, five assists), who was taken out by a screen in the second half. 

You thought the WNBA was rough and tumble? Welcome to the world stage. 

Before the Games, Wilson told USA TODAY Sports that her biggest takeaway after making her Olympic debut in Tokyo was “No one likes us. We’re not going to get anything easy.” 

Opponents go at the Americans, shoving, grabbing and scratching every single possession. They know they’re not going to out-talent the U.S. But they can try to out-tough them.

“As much as we can tell them about either the pace of our opponent and things they do (well) or the physicality that you’re permitted to play with, it’s another thing when you’re actually living through it,” said U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve. “With Japan, there’s physicality literally on every catch, every cut. Responding to that — shoot without fading, stop shying away from getting in there, go strong.”

Fortunately for the U.S., the two best players in the world play for America, and they don’t mind getting a little feisty in the paint when necessary. 

Wilson said the first game of an international tournament can be “a wake-up call” in terms of remembering the physicality. But she knew it was coming, and reminded herself, “You get the first punch, don’t get punched first.” 

On Monday Wilson (24 points, 13 rebounds) and Stewart (22 points, eight rebounds) asserted their dominance, using their rare combination of size, skill and athleticism to lead the Americans to a victory. 

Wilson and Stewart know this is their team, and the pressure is on them to uphold the standard that veterans such as Taurasi have set for the last 20-plus years. They’ve embraced the leadership role. But they don’t just implore their teammates to get it together — they lead the charge. They play off each other well, too. If Stewart misses a shot, Wilson is likely to grab the rebound. When Wilson has the ball at the high post, she’s looking inside for Stewart. 

"It’s amazing to play with A’ja,” Stewart said. “I think that her and I are continuing to create this two-woman tandem on the court, looking for each other (in) high-low, running the floor and really making it difficult for the other team.” 

Wilson and Stewart are the two best two-way players in the world; along with their offensive takeover, they combined for seven blocks Monday. Defending one of them is hard enough. Both is a full-on nightmare. Add in 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner (11 points, nine rebounds), and it’s no wonder opponents try to body slam the Americans. How can you compete with this front line? 

“I think our commitment to having the ball in the paint was special,” Reeve said. “Sometimes you might bore of that and start jacking 3s. But the 64 points in the paint tonight, we were pleased with that.”

It might not have been pretty for 40 minutes, but it was the first step toward another gold medal. It won’t get any less physical from here, either. But the Americans will be ready for it. 

“It’s interesting,” Reeve said. “It’s hard to get anything done — cuts or movement. But we’ve gotta figure it out, because that’s what they’re gonna call.” 

She paused, and smiled. 

“Or not call.” 

Email Lindsay Schnell at lschnell@usatoday.com and follow her on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

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