In a thrilling buzzer-beating tip-in that caught Belgium off guard at their home court in Antwerp, Team USA secured a narrow 81-79 victory in the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Breanna Stewart, the reigning WNBA MVP, emerged as the savior for the Pins and the Stripes, preventing them from suffering an unprecedented loss.

The game-winning play, however, was only made possible due to a noticeable error by the referees. Team USA’s celebrations were temperate during the review process to determine the validity of Stewart’s attempt. After careful examination of the courtside monitor, the referees concluded that Stewart had released the ball with her fingertips just before the red lights illuminated.

Kelsey Plum’s admiration for Breanna Stewart

Kelsey Plum shared the most crucial buzzer beater by Breanna Stewart writing, “Stewwwww,” on her Instagram stories. In a thrilling turn of events, Team USA managed to gain possession of the ball with only 4.5 seconds left on the clock. They immediately called a timeout to regroup and came up with a strategic plan to ensure victory. The moment Stewart inbounded the ball to her, Kelsey Plum realized she was trapped and had to think quickly to find a way out.

Despite the difficult situation, she was able to free herself and successfully execute a pull-up jumper along the baseline. With great attention, Stewart closely monitored the shot, skillfully managing to flick it back up; however, much to her disappointment, it fell short. But Stewart didn’t give up as she flickered back the dunk.

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Despite only scoring eight points on three of nine shots, Stewart proved crucial when it mattered most. Her subpar shooting performance mirrored the overall struggles of the American team, which committed 13 turnovers and shot 41.6% from the field.

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Napheesa Collier’s clutch baskets, finishing with a game-high 23 points, and an impressive 27-of-31 free throw shooting, played a crucial role in remaining competitive throughout the game. The Belgian team, which showcased their control through precise ball movement, accurate outside shooting (hitting 12 of 29 shots from beyond the arc), and the unwavering support of their home fans, largely dominated the game.

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Even though they played exceptionally well, their failure to make key shots in the last moments, including three missed three-pointers in the final two minutes, proved to be the deciding factor in Belgium’s defeat.