Paris Olympics 2024: Spain Triumph Over China in Women’s Basketball Opener, Serbia Edges Out Puerto Rico
Paris Olympics 2024 Updates: Spain narrowly defeated China 90-89 in overtime to begin women’s basketball group play at the Paris Olympics 2024.
With Spain defeating the No. 2 team in the world in a thrilling match, it was a remarkable display of skill and tenacity.
After Li Yueru hit a basket inside with four seconds remaining to seal the victory, Queralt Casas threw the ball into the air as the buzzer sounded. The Spaniards then gathered for a massive embrace and celebrated defeating the No. 2 team in the world by bouncing up and down.
With 3:06 remaining in overtime, Maria Araujo made a 3-pointer to help Spain overcome China 90-89 to start women’s basketball group play at the Paris Olympics with a strong win.
After Li Yueru hit a basket inside with four seconds remaining to seal the victory, Queralt Casas threw the ball into the air as the buzzer sounded. The Spaniards then gathered for a massive embrace and celebrated defeating the No. 2 team in the world by bouncing up and down.
The captain of Spain, Alba Torrens, described it as a “wonderful victory.” She declared, “We didn’t stop working, we didn’t stop believing, and we didn’t stop adapting.”
Spain had a last-second opportunity to win under regulation. With 6.5 seconds remaining, Leonor Rodriguez made the game-tying 3-pointer that knocked her down, but her free throw went wide, tying the score at 76. At the buzzer, China’s long heave struck the backboard. On Wednesday, China will play Serbia.
Megan Gustafson’s basket put Spain ahead early in overtime, and Rodriguez had one more opportunity to seal the victory. With 13.2 seconds remaining, she missed her first free throw but made her second to bring the score 90-87.
With 29 points, Gustafson—the 2019 AP Women’s College Basketball Player of the Year from Iowa—led Spain. With a final score of 25, Rodriguez helped the fourth-placed Spaniards look to recover from their sixth-place showing in the Tokyo Games. In the Rio de Janeiro Games 2016 final, Spain was defeated by the United States. A game-high 31 points and 15 rebounds were scored by Li Yueru. Li Meng scored 13 more points.
With 6.3 seconds remaining, Dragana Stankovic stopped Pamela Rosada from driving the lane and subsequently made a free throw to keep Serbia ahead of Puerto Rico.
In the world rankings, Serbia ranked barely ahead of Puerto Rico, in 10th place. Serbia appeared to be a squad that advanced to the quarterfinals three years ago in Tokyo after taking home the bronze in their inaugural appearance at the 2016 Rio Games. For the first three quarters, at least. After three games, Puerto Rico was behind 55–36 but never gave up.
With 52.4 seconds remaining under the Serbian basket, officials had to break up a scramble for a rebound between forward Mya Hollingshed of Puerto Rico and Stankovic, who led Serbia 57-52. Officials evaluated fouls after seeing replays.
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Three free throws from Jacqueline Benitz brought Puerto Rico to within 57-55. After that, Stankovic missed her next two attempts, Serbia missed two more, and with 24.3 seconds remaining, Puerto Rico regained possession.
Stankovic, who finished with a team-high 15 points, missed her second free shot. After a scuffle at midcourt, Puerto Rico only managed a wayward shot at the buzzer.
For Serbia, Jovana Nogic contributed 14, while Sasa Cadjo scored 10. With eleven, Trinity San Antonio led Puerto Rico.
