Megan, a naturalized citizen of Spain, Leads Spain (3-0) to the Quarterfinals at the Olympics

[Franisdaman]

18 pts and 13 rebounds this morning!

7-13 (54%) FG shooting and 3-4 (75%) from the FT line

Spain edges out Puerto Rico in a close 63-62 victory

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[hoffmkr]

They have clinched moving to next round.
Saturday pool play finishes against Serbia.
Winner probably avoids US until finals.

 

[Franisdaman]

interesting:

 

[cmhawks99]

I

What I wouldn’t give to see Megan Gustafson replace Na Smith in the Fever lineup. Start MG and rotate Fagbenle in for 12-15 minutes. Ex-Iowa players bring energy and effort.

I understand that hope and it is did she can’t find a few more minutes but if you are frustrated by our defense now, you would be more so with her in the lineup. She’s just but a very good defender & yes Smith is better

 

[Franisdaman]

Free Story from the Associated Press:

Megan Gustafson's 18 points leads Spain to Olympic Women’s Basketball Quarterfinals​

---

by Associated Press
Wed, July 31st 2024 at 3:16 PM

LILLE, FRANCE - JULY 31: (EDITORS NOTE: Image was captured using a remote camera positioned above the field of play) Megan Gustafson #17 of Team Spain drives to the basket against Mya Hollingshed #21 of Team Puerto Rico and Sofia Roma #11 of Team Puerto Rico during the Women's Group Phase - Group A match between Team Puerto Rico and Team Spain on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on July 31, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)



VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — Laura Gil sank two free throws with 1.9 seconds left as Spain edged Puerto Rico 63-62 on Wednesday and then joined Serbia as the first teams to reach the Olympic women’s basketball quarterfinals at the Paris Games once the Serbians routed China a couple hours later.

Their group has been the most competitive yet with the first games decided by a combined four points. Spain and Serbia needed each other to win to clinch a spot at Bercy Arena back in Paris before these teams wrap up pool play against each other Saturday.

The Spaniards built a 39-25 halftime lead as they try to bounce back from a 6th-place finish 3 years ago at the Tokyo Olympics after taking the silver in 2016 at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

But Mya Hollingshed’s turnaround, fadeaway jumper gave Puerto Rico (0-2) a 62-61 lead with 9.9 seconds left. After Gill’s free throws, Arella Guirantes’ heave from well beyond the 3-point line came up short at the buzzer.

The disappointed Puerto Ricans looked around, hoping for a foul call. Spain (2-0), meanwhile, celebrated and danced heading off the court after surviving.

Advancing took the sting out of blowing a 15-point lead for Spain.

“I’m so happy to make it to the next round,” guard Leonor Rodriguez said. “Now I hope we secure a good spot, but at least we are making it to Paris. The first goal is achieved.”

Those free throws were Gil’s only points of the game. Megan Gustafson, the 2019 AP Player of the Year at Iowa, led Spain with 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Rodriguez added 17 points.

Guirantes led Puerto Rico with 15 points. Pamela Rosado added 11 and Hollingshed had 10.

Puerto Rico set up an exciting fourth quarter after outscoring Spain 19-5 in the third, tying the game at 44. The Puerto Ricans never led by more than four, the last at 59-55 with 3:34 left after a bucket by India Pagan. But Rodriguez drove for a layup with 2:41 left for the fifth tie setting up the finish.

Megan Gustafson leads Spain to Olympic women’s basketball quarterfinals

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France (AP) — Laura Gil sank two free throws with 1.9 seconds left as Spain edged Puerto Rico 63-62 on Wednesday and then joined Serbia as th

cbs2iowa.com

 

[nu2u]

I


I understand that hope and it is did she can’t find a few more minutes but if you are frustrated by our defense now, you would be more so with her in the lineup. She’s just but a very good defender & yes Smith is better

This is something a drunk would post.

 

[cmhawks99]

This is something a drunk would post.

Yes poor work by me, if you didn’t understand it though, I’d wager others did. Talking to fast & dudnt proofread, in short she is not a good defender

 

[Franisdaman]

Megan has looked great so far and really appears to be one of Spain's best players.

And as a reminder: becoming a naturalized citizen of Spain is good for Megan's pro career when she plays overseas in the offseason. Many of these international leagues limit the number of United States players on each team. Megan will now not count as an American and she will be be able to have more choices on where to play overseas in order to maximize her earnings potential.

 

[burk11]

Open Borders?

 

[Franisdaman]

Open Borders?

nope; there are limits to this

 

[Franisdaman]

Megan's next game:

Women's Olympic Basketball
GROUP A
Saturday August 3, 2024
6:30 AM CT
Serbia (2-0) vs Spain (2-0)

Spain is a 3.5 point favorite. O/U is 136.5 points.

 

[burk11]

nope; there are limits to this

Green Card?

 

[Franisdaman]

Megan and Spain are going to improve to 3-0.

Here's a link to watch the final 4:41.

Hit the E6 button (if not already in white).

Then hit the PLAY button.

Link: Megan/Spain vs Serbia

 

[Franisdaman]

Serbia cut the 18 point Spain lead to single digits and they had to put Megan back in.

 

[Franisdaman]

Megan/Spain win 70-62. They finish 3-0 in Group A and advance to the Olympic Quarterfinals.

Spain led 55-38 after three quarters, gave up 24 points in the 4th quarter, and held on at the end.

Megan's stats:

17 minutes

0-1 from three
1-1 from two
...............................
1-2 (50%) overall shooting

2-2 (100%) FTs

4 Points
9 Rebounds (2 Offensive)
1 Steal
0 Assists
0 Blocks

0 Turnovers
3 Fouls (you only get 4 in the Olympics)

 

[Franisdaman]

Megan ended up playing just 17 minutes. She had 2 fouls in the 1st quarter and sat the entire 2nd quarter. You only get 4 fouls in the Olympics.

 

[Franisdaman]

FIBA published how the race for the MVP of the Olympics women's team stood after the first two games.

Look who is at #7.

 

[hahkize]

Where's Taurasi and Griner? LOL.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[nck24]

View embedded media

I drove though Port Wing Wisconsin (Megan's home town) and was surprised that I didn't see any signs about her. She has to be the most famous person ever from that really really small town.

 

[Franisdaman]

I drove though Port Wing Wisconsin (Megan's home town) and was surprised that I didn't see any signs about her. She has to be the most famous person ever from that really really small town.

Yeah, Megan's graduating class at South Shore High included just 11 seniors.

Port Wing had a population of 172 in 2022.

Looks like a neat little town off of Lake Superior.

 

[nck24]

Yeah, Megan's graduating class at South Shore High included just 11 seniors.

Port Wing had a population of 172 in 2022.

Looks like a neat little town off of Lake Superior.

The sign on the road says it's an unincorporated town. I expected some level of acknowledgement of it's most famous citizen. Didn't see anything. The area is a great place for a Great Lakes vacation btw.

 

[AMAYS]

Yeah, Megan's graduating class at South Shore High included just 11 seniors.

Port Wing had a population of 172 in 2022.

Looks like a neat little town off of Lake Superior.

Megan is the 2nd Big Ten WBB Player of the Year from Port Wing. Jolene Anderson won it in 2008. She is also the Badgers all-time leading scorer.

Anderson was also the state’s leading high school scorer until Gustafson passed her.

 

[Franisdaman]

The sign on the road says it's an unincorporated town. I expected some level of acknowledgement of it's most famous citizen. Didn't see anything. The area is a great place for a Great Lakes vacation btw.

That area of the country does look nice. What part were you vacationing at?

Guessing the temps were low to mid 70's (almost perfect)?

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

	Time (CT)	Sport	Event	Result
	4:00 AM	Basketball	Women's Basketball, SRB v AUS	View Results
	7:30 AM	Basketball	Women's Basketball, SPAIN v BEL	View Results
	11:00 AM	Basketball	Women's Basketball, GER v FRA	View Results
	2:30 PM	Basketball	Women's Basketball, NIGERIA v USA	View Results

 

[Franisdaman]

NIGERIA vs USA, 2:30 pm CT, tomorrow.

 

[HawkeyeGenius]

Hopefully she can get a medal.

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[EagleHawk]

Looks like Megan is having a good game (17 & 5) but Spain trails Belgium by 11 at half.

 

[hoffmkr]

Megan and Cazorla are 11-17, everyone else 4-21 right now for spain.

And Belgium shooting over 60%, 70% from 3.

 

[Menace Sockeyes]

Meg won’t medal. Spain was upset by a hit shooting Belgium team. Meg with 21, was the only one (besides maybe Capital) carrying her weight that game. Sad.

 

[WDSMHAWK]

Meg won’t medal. Spain was upset by a hit shooting Belgium team. Meg with 21, was the only one (besides maybe Capital) carrying her weight that game. Sad.

I don't know enough about international women's hoops but was this really an upset?

I watched Belgium vs the US last week and they looked very good and from what the announcers said they have almost beaten the US before so I assumed they were one of the favorites.