China’s Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Puerto Rico, Eyes Quarterfinals at Paris 2024
In a decisive turn of events at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, China’s women’s basketball team secured an emphatic 80-58 victory over Puerto Rico on Saturday, rekindling their hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Five players from the Chinese squad reached double figures in scoring, showcasing a balanced offensive effort. Leading the charge was Li Meng, who contributed 18 points despite a challenging shooting night, hitting just four of her 14 attempts. Her relentless drives to the basket earned her eight trips to the free-throw line, where she capitalized on seven opportunities.
Dominating the paint, Li Yueru exhibited remarkable efficiency, adding 14 points while connecting on 75% of her field goal attempts. Her performance anchored China’s interior offense and set the tone for the team’s commanding win.
The victory allowed China to clinch third place in Group A, finishing behind Spain and Serbia, both of whom handed China defeats in the earlier matches. With this win, China remains in contention for a spot in the knockout stages.
The women’s basketball tournament at Paris 2024 features 12 teams divided into three groups. According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group, along with the two best-performing third-place teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.
China currently boasts a favorable record and statistical advantage over the other third-place contenders—Australia from Group B and Belgium from Group C. The outcomes of Sunday’s games, where Australia faces France and Belgium takes on Japan, will be pivotal. The results will determine which two third-place teams will progress to the next round.
As the competition intensifies, China’s women’s basketball team remains focused and hopeful. Their tenacity and teamwork displayed against Puerto Rico have reignited enthusiasm among fans and set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the group phase.
