Team USA will face Belgium on Thursday. (Credit: USA Basketball and Belgium Basketball/X) — Team USA will face Belgium on Thursday (Image Credits: @usabasketball/X, @thebelgiancats/X)

Team USA vs. Belgium Preview and Prediction for 2024 Paris Olympics Women's Basketball | August 1, 2024

Modified Jul 31, 2024 11:30 GMT

Team USA will square off against Belgium in the 2024 Paris Olympics women's basketball Group C game on Thursday. Team USA and Belgium began their campaigns with contrasting results.

Cheryl Reeve's group began its quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal with a resounding victory. Team USA handed 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Japan a 102-76 hammering on Monday.

On the contrary, Belgium suffered an 83-69 defeat against Germany on Monday.

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Team USA vs. Belgium: Preview, prediction and odds

The game between Team USA and Belgium is scheduled to take place on Thursday at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille in France. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET. The game will be telecast live on NBC Network while the live stream will be available on Peacock and Fubo.

Moneyline: Team USA (-2800) vs. Belgium (+1600)

Spread: Team USA (-23) vs. Belgium (+23)

Total (O/U): Team USA (o162.5-110) vs. Belgium (u162.5-110)

Editor's note: The odds could change closer to the game. The odds listed were as per available information at the time of writing.

Team USA vs. Belgium: Preview

A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Chelsea Gray put on spectacular performances as Team USA oozed dominance in their campaign opener against Japan. Wilson had a monster game as the Las Vegas Aces superstar scored 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. The two-time WNBA MVP grabbed 13 rebounds, dished out four assists and recorded four blocks.

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Stewart chipped in with a solid 22-point and eight-rebound game on 11-of-15 shooting from the field. Gray was exceptional in generating offense as the Aces' point guard dished out 13 assists.

All 12 players on the roster received playing time as Team USA overpowered Japan. A'ja Wilson and Co. excelled in most major categories. Team USA registered 29 more rebounds and 12 more assists than Japan while shooting 54.6% from the field.

The only area coach Cheryl Reeve will likely want her players to improve is 3-point shooting. Team USA shot a poor 20% from beyond the arc and converted just four of their 20 attempts from deep.

On the flip side, Belgium will be desperate for a better start than the one they had in their previous game against Germany. Rachid Meziane's team scored just 11 points and conceded 25 points in the first quarter.

Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo led Belgium's charge on the offensive end. Meesseman top-scored with 25 points on 10-15 shooting from the field. Vanloo, who plays for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA, scored 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor.

Belgium shot a below-par 27.8% from 3-point range and a poor 61.5% on free throws. They will need to be significantly better to stand any chance of challenging Team USA.

Team USA vs. Belgium: Predicted starting 5s

Team USA: Chelsea Gray, Diana Taurasi, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier and A'ja Wilson are expected to start.

Belgium: Antonia Delaere, Emma Meesseman, Kyara Linskens, Becky Massey and Julie Vanloo are expected to start.

Team USA vs. Belgium: Prediction

Team USA's roster is filled with players who are proven game-changers. The experience and depth of Team USA is what the other countries lack. Team USA is currently on an incredible 56-game winning streak in the Olympics. Belgium also has a good pool of players but arguably doesn't enjoy the same depth as their opponents.

Expect Team USA to register yet another dominant performance and record a blowout win against Belgium.