The women's tournament finishes up its second round of group play on Thursday, Aug. 1, with four games on tap including a huge clash between the U.S. and reigning EuroBasket champions Belgium.
Follow along for a breakdown of all the day's action from Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Women's Group B: France 75, Nigeria 54
Gabby Williams had 14 points, seven assists and six steals as France improved to 2-0 with a win over Nigeria at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Thursday.
France's defensive chops have been impressive through two games, holding Nigeria to the same total as in Les Bleus opening defeat of Canada. Marine Johannes added 15 points for the French, who were aggressive and physical throughout, committing 14 fouls and racking up 13 steals. France's size advantage also showed up in the paint, shooting 22-of-35 from inside the 3-point line.
New Jersey-born point guard and three-time AfroBasket champion Ezinne Kalu had a day for Nigeria, scoring 18 points, but there was little help outside of Murjanatu Liman Musa's 14; Nigeria's total points did not come close to the 75 posted in the tournament-opening win over Australia, and 15 of their points came from the line.
Nigeria joins Australia with a 1-1 record, while Canada is 0-2. D'Tigress will have a chance to cinch a historic knockout berth when they meet Canada at 7:30 a.m. ET Saturday, while France looks to complete a perfect run through Group B in a matchup with Australia at 3 p.m.
Women's Group C: Germany 75, Japan 64
It wasn't nearly as pretty as the opening blowout of Belgium, but Satou Sabally's 33 points helped Germany grind out a tough win over Japan on Thursday to move atop Group C at 2-0.
Neither team cracked 40% from the field in what was a tough, physical, defensive-minded game. But on a day in which hardly any baskets came easy, Sabally was the difference for the Germans, pouring in a tournament-high 33 points on 11-of-17 from the field and 3-of-6 from deep.
This Japanese team thrives on chaos, pushing the pace and getting up as many 3s as it can. But while it succeeded in mucking things up against a more talented team, it simply couldn't get enough shots to fall; Japan finished just 9-of-30 from deep, including a 3-of-10 effort from Saki Hayashi.
Germany held a slight lead throughout, taking a six-point edge into the halftime break and stretching it to as much as 12 in the fourth. Japan cut it back down to five on a Hayashi 3 with 90 seconds remaining, but two Alexis Peterson free throws salted things away.
Germany's win sets up a huge showdown with the U.S. in the final round of group play on Sunday, Aug. 4; if the Americans win on Thursday afternoon against Belgium, that game will be for all the marbles in Group C. Japan still has a path to advance to the quarterfinals as a third-place team, but they'll need to beat Belgium on Sunday and get some help.
Women's Group B: Australia 70, Canada 65
Both teams came in desperate for a win after disappointing openers, but it was Australia's defense that carried the day in a game that wasn't quite as close as the final score suggests.
Sami Whitcomb (19 points, 7-of-10 shooting) led a balanced Aussie attack that featured five different players in double figures. But it was on the other end of the floor that Australia took control of a game that it only trailed for four minutes.
Canada shot just 35% from the field, including an ugly 14-for-45 mark from inside the arc. Bridget Carleton (19 points, eight rebounds, four assists) did her best to keep the Canadians in it, including a floater in the lane to cut the deficit back down to seven with just under three minutes left. But every time Canada tried to make a run, Australia had an answer, with five quick points from Marianna Tolo sealing the win.
The win puts Australia right back in the thick of things in Group B at 1-1, with a tough matchup against France still remaining to close out group play on Sunday. Canada, meanwhile, now really has its work cut out for it, needing a win against a tough Nigeria team on Sunday and some help to advance to the quarterfinals.
Women's Group C: USA 87, Belgium 74
Belgium threw one heck of a punch, but in the end the duo of A'ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart was simply too much as the U.S. pulled away in the fourth quarter.