USA remains on track of claiming its eight straight and tenth overall gold medal in Olympic women's basketball after flattening Australia in Paris 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 10.
Seven-time defending champion USA has no plans of relinquishing its throne that it has long occupied.
Flexing its dominance from the get-go, the World No. 1 squad returned to the finals via an 85-64 beatdown of rival Australia in Paris 2024 women's basketball on Friday, Aug. 10.
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USA thus improved its head-to-head against the third-ranked Aussies to 9-0 in the quadrennial meet and 20-0 overall.
The Americans' latest victory over their foe allowed them to move to the championship stage against either France or Belgium, where they will have a chance to secure their eighth gold medal and 10th overall.
It also gave them their 77th win against just three losses in the Games.
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USA zoomed to a 14-4 lead in the opener, pouncing on Australia's early turnovers to set the tone for the rout.
While Australia showed early resistance to close in at 16-18 in the closing stages of the first period, USA quickly nipped it in the bud.
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The Americans opened the second with nine straight points anchored on two triples by Kahleah Copper and Sabrina Ionescu to hike the lead back to double digits, 32-16, and never looked back.
Breanna Stewart starred for Team USA with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal.
Jackie Young contributed 14 points and five assists, while Copper had 11 points, including the fastbreak layup that gave the squad a 30-point lead, 73-43, three minutes into the fourth quarter.
Isobel Borlase topscored for the Aussies with 11, eight of which in the fourth as she tried to rally her squad.
Borlase fired six points in a 9-0 tear to trim the gap to 51-73 and lift the hopes of the Australians with six minutes to go in the match.
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But Copper quickly doused it with a basket, not allowing momentum to shift to her opponent's side.
Tess Madgen added 10 points, Allana Smith put in seven points and seven boards while Jade Melbourne also had seven markers for Australia.
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Australia will not go home empty-handed though as it will still battle for the bronze against the loser in the other semis pairing.