On August 11, in the Olympic women’s basketball bronze medal match, the Belgian women’s basketball team faced off against the Australian women’s basketball team, with Australia ultimately winning 85-81.
This game was a back-and-forth battle. Despite having seven WNBA players, the Australian women’s team did not perform as expected. Both key players Whitcomb and Alanna Smith struggled with their shooting. Throughout the game, Whitcomb made only 5 out of 17 attempts for 14 points, while Alanna Smith scored 13 points on 4 out of 12 shooting.
Australia’s victory in this game was largely due to Magbegor’s outstanding performance. She scored 14 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the first half. In the previous five games, Magbegor’s highest single-game score was also 14 points. In the second half, Magbegor continued her standout performance, particularly in the fourth quarter where she dominated the rebounding battle, securing 5 rebounds alone in the final quarter. For the entire game, Magbegor shot an efficient 12 out of 17 for 30 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, with a +12 plus-minus rating.
Australia’s win in this game was significantly related to their advantage in rebounds. Belgium managed to grab 31 rebounds throughout the game, while Australia secured 44 rebounds.