The Cats scored and won by just enough to make the 2024 Olympic 5×5 women’s basketball quarterfinals in Lille.
The Belgium women’s national basketball team won against Japan, 85-58 on Sunday in Lille for the 2024 Olympics group stage. The pro-Cats crowd didn’t celebrate a win. They also celebrated that Belgium won by 27 points, the exact bare minimum needed to clinch an Olympic quarterfinals spot without praying on what happens in today’s remaining game.
With the score being as lopsided as it was, this wasn’t a wire-to-wire win for the Cats. They were actually behind by 2 early in the second quarter after surrendering an early double digit lead.
Former Washington Mystics forward Emma Meesseman led the Cats with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. She shot 14-of-21 from the field. In addition, Mystics guard Julie Vanloo dished 6 assists though she only scored 5 points and had another off game today. Elise Ramette added 16 points for Belgium.
For Japan, Saki Hayashi led in scoring with 13 points, while former Mystics guard Rui Machiday scored 5 points and dished 4 assists.
The Cats accomplished two big things with this win. First, this win gives the Cats revenge for their 2020 Olympic quarterfinals loss three years ago (it’s not four because of the coronavirus pandemic). And of course, they salvaged their poor 2024 Olympics showing by advancing to the quarterfinals today.
The 2024 Olympic Quarterfinals and medal rounds
As for now, it is unclear which team the Cats will play in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Group B’s last two games are later this afternoon. Nigeria, Australia and Canada all have a chance to clinch a quarterfinals spot, but their final point differential differences will determine whether the Cats are the best or second-best third place team.
Either way, the Cats are playing the better ranked team of the top seeds in Groups A or B. France appears to be a good be to be the winner in Group B. Spain is the winner of Group A.
If the Cats have to play the French in the quarterfinals, it’s likely an early end for a team that was considered one of the true medal contenders. After all, even though the Cats have beaten Les Bleues before, France is also a world power AND the host team.
But again, the Cats are playing right next to a major Belgian city in Kortrijk. They practiced and held press conferences there instead of being in Lille. They finally have some momentum going again. And their fans travel well. So don’t be that surprised if the Cats can pull off such a win. They weren’t far off from it earlier this year.
The quarterfinals and medal rounds will be played at the Accor Arena in Paris. If you see the words “Bercy Arena,” it’s a placeholder name because the International Olympic Committee doesn’t want to see stadium naming sponsorships. The main reason why basketball was in Lille instead of Paris, the host city, was because of the lack of venues in the city. Accor Arena was the main site for men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics during the first week.
See you all on Wednesday for the quarterfinals.