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The U.S. women’s basketball team extended its historic winning streak on Monday in Lille.

, easily defeated Japan 102-76. A’ja Wilson led the way for Team USA with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Breanna Stewart added 22 points and eight rebounds.

“We always say the most physical team normally gets the win, so we had to come out and establish ourselves on the stage that we're on, and I think we did a good job of that today,” Wilson said after the game.

The U.S. last saw the Japanese team in the gold-medal match 

 three years ago. At that meeting, the U.S. came away with a 90-75 win and a seventh straight gold medal. Now, the Team USA is hoping to win an eighth straight.

The game also marked a return to international play for 

. She was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charges. But in December 2022, she was freed in a 

After her release, she said she would never play overseas again unless suiting up for the U.S. at the Olympics. In Monday’s game, Griner had 11 points and nine rebounds.

“Honestly, I think it was incredible for BG to be back at the Olympics,” said Stewart of her teammate. “Anything that she does going forward, and the way that she handles herself, and being here, being overseas, being a dominant force down low, I’m really proud of her.”

The U.S. team will next play Belgium on Thursday.

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Juana Summers

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The U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team cruised over Japan 102-76. The U.S. squad, which now boasts a 56-game Olympic winning streak, is on the hunt for an eighth-straight Olympic gold medal.

U.S. women’s basketball team opens the Olympics with dominant win over Japan

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