Spanish Women’s Basketball vs Puerto Rican Women’s Basketball Preview: Rodriguez on Fire, Spain Eyes a Winning Streak

On July 31 at 5 PM Paris time, the second round of the women’s basketball group stage in the Olympic Games will see Spain’s women’s basketball team face off against Puerto Rico.

In their first match, Spain played against China, winning by the skin of their teeth. With just 27 seconds left, they were trailing by five points, but China’s consecutive errors allowed for a 2+1 opportunity. Rodriguez nailed three threes and was fouled, but missed the free throws, meaning the game would have been a miraculous comeback had she converted them. In overtime, Spain seized the chance and successfully reversed the situation, securing their first Olympic win and gaining an advantage in their group’s qualifying race.

Spain’s backcourt duo performed exceptionally well. Rodriguez hit 3 out of 5 three-pointers, scoring 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists, with her final key three-pointer being crucial. Gustafson made 14 out of 21 shots, achieving the highest score for the team with 29 points, along with 8 rebounds and 4 steals. Spain had only two players who scored double digits, but their victory was also due to China’s repeated mistakes. Given that Puerto Rico is relatively weaker, it is likely that Spain will not miss this opportunity and will aim for a win, potentially securing their second consecutive victory and advancing to the quarterfinals.

Puerto Rico’s women’s basketball team faced Serbia in their first match, encountering a surprising turn of events. By the end of the third quarter, Puerto Rico was trailing by 19 points, seemingly putting the game out of reach. However, the final quarter saw a dramatic shift as Serbia suddenly lost their rhythm, scoring only 3 points, leaving Puerto Rico one step away from a miraculous comeback. They eventually lost 55-58. In that game, only one player from Puerto Rico scored double digits, a San Antonio native who made 5 out of 9 shots for 11 points and 4 rebounds.

Both Spain and Puerto Rico are in Group A, alongside China and Serbia. Currently, Spain and Serbia each have a win under their belts, making the outlook for qualification uncertain. It’s important to note that several upsets have occurred in the group stage thus far, with the gap between teams not being significant (aside from the United States).

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