The United States women’s wheelchair basketball team has advanced to the semifinals of the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games following a hard-fought victory over Great Britain, concluding with a score of 59-52 at the Bercy Arena in Paris on September 4th. The match was characterized by its competitive nature, featuring 11 lead changes and eight ties, showcasing the tenacity of both teams in their quest for advancement.

Critical to the U.S. victory were players Ixhelt Gonzalez and Rose Hollermann, who each made pivotal shots in the closing two minutes to secure their team’s lead. Hollermann delivered an outstanding performance, achieving a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Gonzalez emerged as the top scorer of the game, contributing 16 points to the U.S. total.

Gonzalez expressed her exhilaration post-match, stating, “It feels amazing. We have been working on this moment for the past three years, ever since Tokyo (2020). There have been various challenges, including canceled tournaments, but we have been eager to reach this point. Our team is incredibly unified and committed to basketball.”

In defeat, Great Britain’s Jade Atkin led her team with 15 points and took a constructive approach towards the loss, suggesting it could serve as a motivator for future competitions: “We will take this time to reflect, and we aim to return stronger for the next match, demonstrating our potential for a podium finish in the upcoming games. It is our intention to use this experience to our advantage as we look forward to the Los Angeles 2028 Games.”

The victory by the United States sets the stage for an upcoming semifinal match against the People’s Republic of China, which triumphed over Japan earlier on the same day. Notably, the two teams had not previously faced each other during the Paralympics, adding an intriguing element to their forthcoming encounter.

On the opposite side of the bracket, Canada secured their place in the semifinals with a commanding 71-53 win against Germany, buoyed by Kady Dandenau’s remarkable scoring performance of 33 points. Canada is set to compete against the Netherlands, who won the gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Both semifinal matches are scheduled for Friday, September 6th, promising to be exciting contests as the tournament progresses.

In conclusion, as the Paralympic Games unfold in Paris, the United States women’s wheelchair basketball team has demonstrated resilience and skill, positioning themselves as strong contenders for a medal as they move closer to their goal.

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