Crazy Mistakes! Australia Suppressed Throughout the Game, Causing a Major Upset; Qualification Situation in Turmoil

On July 29, a major upset occurred in the Olympic women’s basketball group stage as one of the favorites, Australia, lost 62-75 to Nigeria, suffering a disappointing start which has muddled the qualification situation in this group.

Australia ranks third in the world and fourth in the strength rankings. With seven WNBA players on their roster, they are considered one of the top contenders for the title. Nigeria was ranked last in both official strength rankings and had previously lost all eight of their Olympic games, with almost no one giving them a chance before the match.

The course of the game was unexpected, as Australia made numerous mistakes, scoring only 11 points in the second quarter and trailing by 13 points at halftime. In the second half, Australia managed to reduce the deficit to just two points at one point, but ultimately fell short, losing by 13 points to Nigeria in the biggest upset of the tournament.

In this match, Australia’s downfall was due to excessive turnovers, committing a total of 26 throughout the game, providing their opponents with too many opportunities for fast breaks. Additionally, several players struggled with their shooting, leading to this defeat. Australia’s surprise loss in their first game has also disrupted the qualification situation in this group. The other two teams in this group are France and Canada, meaning that Australia can no longer afford any slip-ups in their next two matches.