Since winning the bronze medal game at the 1992 Summer Olympics, the U.S. women’s basketball game has not lost in international competition. And with three more wins Geno Auriemma’s team will have the program’s sixth straight Olympic gold medal, something they’re expected to accomplished based on both their talent and the way in which they’ve beaten teams in Rio.
WATCH LIVE: Women’s basketball quarterfinals -- 10 a.m. Eastern
Just one of their five wins in pool play was by fewer than 30 points, with that being a 110-84 win over Serbia. And with all due respect to Japan, their opponent in the quarterfinal round, it would be a surprise if Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and company didn’t win by 30-plus Tuesday. Japan went 3-2 in pool play, dropping into fourth position due to tiebreakers with Turkey and France.
WATCH LIVE: U.S. vs. Japan, women’s basketball quarterfinals -- 5:45 p.m. Eastern
Leading the way for Japan has been forward Ramu Tokashiki, who averaged 17.6 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in pool play. Shooting just under 51 percent from the field at the Olympics, Tokashiki will draw the attention of American players Tina Charles, Brittney Griner and Sylvia Fowles in the low post. Fellow forward Mika Kurihara (12.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg) has also played well for Japan, but this is a matchup that should be a beneficial one for the U.S. guards.
The winner of this game will take on the winner of the quarterfinal matching France and Canada on Thursday.
This will be the third of four quarterfinals played Tuesday, with Serbia/Australia getting things started at 10 a.m. Eastern. That will be followed by the matchup between Spain and Turkey, with France and Canada meeting in the final game of the night.