A’ja Wilson dominates as US women beat Japan 102-76 to open campaign for 8th straight Olympic gold

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Brittney Griner dominated the paint and helped the U.S. win its Olympic opener as the Americans chase an unprecedented eighth straight gold medal.

Wilson had 24 points, 13 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to help the U.S. beat Japan 102-76 on Monday night.

“Points in the paint and controlling the boards are going to be huge for us moving forward,” Wilson said. “So if we can continue that, I feel like we’re in good shape."

Stewart scored 22 points and the Americans now have a 56-game Olympic winning streak that dates to the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The U.S. also beat Japan in the final at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago for its seventh straight gold medal.

Now Monday's victory tipped off the run to keep that streak going.

“We played this team for a gold medal, you know, not too long ago. And the way they play is unorthodox. They shoot a lot of threes. They’re fast. They make you play in a different style,” said Diana Taurasi, who is trying to win an unprecedented sixth gold medal. “And I think you saw those different moments where we struggled a little bit, and then we got used to it.”

Stewart, who is playing in her third Olympics, said there were some nerves before the game.

“It was great to get this first win under our belt. A team like Japan is a dangerous team if you really let them get going and us to just kind of build that trust on the fly I think is really important,” Stewart said. “And now we kind of know the tone and the standard of, you know, what we’re going to do game in and game out.”

Japan, which was severely undersized against the U.S., used its frenetic style of shooting 3s off drives to the basket to try and keep the game close.

It worked for about 17 minutes as Japan only trailed 37-32 with 3:01 left before the half. The U.S. then scored 13 of the final 19 points before break, including a three-point play by Wilson with 8.2 seconds left to open up a double-digit lead.

“When it came to our strengths, it was our depth and our height,” Wilson said. "And we tried to punish them in the paint, but also on the defensive end, staying in front of them because Japan is a team that’s really like to rip and run and that’s not like us. So it made us play out of our defensive schemes, which made us lock in even more so I’m just glad about the presence that we have.”

The Americans, who next play on Thursday against Belgium, put the game away in the third quarter. Chelsea Gray had nifty passes to Wilson for easy scores and the U.S. was off and running. Japan never threatened.

Maki Takada scored 24 points, and Mai Yamamoto added 17 for Japan, which hit 15 3-pointers. The U.S. made only four of its 20 3-point attempts.

This was Griner’s first game internationally since she spent time in a Russian prison in 2022 after she was sentenced to nine years in jail for drug possession and smuggling. Playing for her country again was a far-fetched idea at that point. Ten months later, she was free after a high-profile prisoner exchange.

Now, 19 months later, she’s suiting up for the U.S. in the Paris Games — her first trip to play overseas since returning from Russia.

Griner was huge in the 2021 gold medal game, scoring 30 points. It was the most points scored by an American player in a gold medal contest.

She had 11 points and nine rebounds Monday. With Wilson grabbing 13, the Americans had a dominating 56-27 advantage on the boards. They also held a huge 64-22 edge on points inside.

Sabrina Ionescu and Kelsey Plum each added 11 points for the Americans.

The U.S. had a scary moment in the second quarter when Kahleah Copper collided with Rui Machida on Japan and was down for a minute before getting up and walking off and holding her side. She returned in the fourth quarter and looked fine.

Coach Cheryl Reeve said she talked to Copper before putting her back in and the wing said she was fine.

The game capped a busy day of basketball. Nigeria pulled off a surprise victory over Australia — only the second in the history of the Olympics for an African country. Germany won its Olympic debut, beating Belgium and host France topped Canada in front of a spirited crowd.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Brittney Griner, of the Unites States, celebrates in a women's basketball game against Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Unites States head coach Cheryl Reeve signals to her team as they played against Japan in a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Nako Motohashi, of Japan, looks to pass under Alyssa Thomas, of the Unites States, in a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Saori Miyazaki, left, and Maki Takada, of Japan, defend A'ja Wilson, of the Unites States, in a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Kahleah Copper, of the Unites States, shoots around Himawari Akaho, of Japan, during a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, Pool)

Kahleah Copper, of the Unites States, is assisted off the floor after being injured in a women's basketball game against Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Kahleah Copper, of the Unites States, on the floor after being injured in a women's basketball game against Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Brittney Griner, of the Unites States, shoots over Saori Miyazaki, of Japan, in a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Breanna Stewart, of the Unites States, shoots over Saki Hayashi, of Japan, in a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

A'ja Wilson, of the Unites States, tips the ball away from Maki Takada, of Japan, during a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (Gregory Shamus/Pool Photo via AP)

A'ja Wilson, of the Unites States, celebrates after scoring against Japan in a women's basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jose Quintana extended his scoreless streak to a career-high 22 2/3 innings and Brandon Nimmo’s three-run homer capped a nine-run fourth as the surging New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 10-0 on Wednesday night to finish a three-game sweep.

Luisangel Acuña homered again for the Mets (84-68), who moved a season-high 16 games above .500 and remained tied with Arizona for the second of three NL wild cards — two games ahead of Atlanta for the league’s last playoff spot.

“I’m pretty much convinced now we’re not in the regular season anymore,” Nimmo said. “We’re in playoff baseball and every win is extremely important. It decides whether we keep playing or not.”

Acuña, Mark Vientos and Starling Marte each drove in two runs as the Mets followed a 10-1 victory Tuesday night with another blowout of Washington. New York finished 11-2 against the Nationals this season, its best record against one opponent since going 10-1 versus the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988.

“We’re close to the finish of the season and we’re in good position,” Quintana said. “We feel really strong.”

Quintana (10-9) allowed two hits, walked two and struck out four in seven innings to complete his season-long dominance of the Nationals, whom he blanked over 21 innings in three starts — the most innings a Mets pitcher has thrown in a season without allowing a run against an opponent in franchise history.

“He doesn’t throw many balls right over the heart of the plate,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He nibbles a lot, but you’ve got to get up there and be ready to hit when it does come over the plate.”

Quintana hasn’t allowed a run since the third inning against the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 31. His previous career-best scoreless streak was 20 2/3 innings in 2014.

The veteran left-hander has won four straight outings and permitted one earned run in 32 innings over his last five starts for a 0.28 ERA during that span.

“He’s been in the league for a long time and there’s a reason why,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He knows that you’re going to go through stretches where it’s hard. And he’ll continue to find a way. It’s just basically trusting his pitches, his repertoire, in the strike zone.”

The Mets sent 12 batters to the plate against DJ Herz (4-8) and Jacob Barnes in the fourth, when they had their biggest inning since a nine-run fourth against Toronto on Sept. 11, 2020. Tyrone Taylor opened the scoring with an RBI double and Vientos — mired in 0-for-15 and 3-for-39 slumps — laced a two-run single before Acuña and Marte had run-scoring hits.

Nimmo followed Marte by hitting his second homer since Aug. 20, a 419-foot drive into the Nationals’ bullpen in right-center field. The outfielder had three potential homers sail just foul of the right-field pole in the Mets’ previous four home games.

“It was funny, Steve Cohen actually told me, ‘Hey, that one you finally kept fair,'” Nimmo said with a laugh, referring to the Mets’ owner. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, that one had no danger of being around the foul pole.’”

Acuña homered in the eighth — his second in two nights. A younger brother of reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr., the 22-year-old infielder is 7 for 15 in his first five big league games.

CJ Abrams had two of the Nationals’ three hits. Herz allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: 2B Luis García Jr. (right wrist) didn’t play. He exited Tuesday’s game in the fourth inning after aggravating a chronic injury. … RHP Trevor Williams (flexor strain) is expected to come off the 60-day injured list and start Friday against the Chicago Cubs. Williams last pitched on May 30.

Mets: SS Francisco Lindor (sore back) missed his third straight game but played catch and ran Wednesday afternoon. … Rookie RHP Christian Scott (right elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery with an internal brace added next week and will likely be out until 2026. Scott was 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA in nine starts before being injured in his final start July 21. … RHP Kodai Senga (strained left calf), eligible to come off the 60-day injured list next Wednesday, plans to pitch for Triple-A Syracuse this weekend and could still pitch as an opener for the Mets over the final five days of the regular season. … RHP Paul Blackburn (spinal leak in back) threw for the first time since making a rehab start Sept. 3 and hopes to pitch for the Mets next week. … INF Brett Baty (broken left index finger) went 0 for 4 with Syracuse in his first game action since Aug. 22. Mendoza said Baty could be a candidate for a recall by the Mets.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Continue their final road trip Thursday, when LHP Patrick Corbin (6-13, 5.45 ERA) opens a four-game series against RHP Javier Assad (7-5, 3.27) and the Chicago Cubs.

Mets: RHP Luis Severino (10-6, 3.77 ERA) starts Thursday night in the opener of a pivotal four-game series against the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies, who counter with ex-Mets RHP Taijuan Walker (3-6, 6.29).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals' DJ Herz pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso reacts after grounding out Washington Nationals' Ildemaro Vargas during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Jose Iglesias, left, and Brandon Nimmo, react after Nimmo hit a home run leading Iglesias and Starling Marte to score during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

From left, New York Mets' Luis Severino, Starling Marte, Jose Iglesias, and Brandon Nimmo pose with a sign after Nimmo hit a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo, right, slides to home plate to score on a double hit by Tyrone Taylor as Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas, left, attempts to ground him out during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Harrison Bader, left, Brandon Nimmo, center, and Luisangel Acuna, right, react after Bader and Acuna scored on a single hit by Starling Marte during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Jesse Winker, left, Luisangel Acuna, center, and Luis Severino, right, pose with a sign after Acuna hit a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

New York Mets' Jose Quintana pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)