“Onto quarterfinals fellas”: 3x champ Dawn Staley cannot keep calm as Team USA clinches electrifying win over South Sudan during 2024 Paris Olympics

Dawn Staley couldn't contain her emotions as Team USA beat South Sudan 103-86 in their second pool game at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday to qualify for the quarterfinals. Contrasting to the July 20 pre-Olympics exhibition game, the Americans maintained their lead throughout the game as they sealed their last-eight berth.

The three-time NCAA women's basketball national championship winner posted a message on X, formerly known as Twitter, as Team USA moved into the quarterfinals.

"Onto the quarterfinals fellas, @usabasketball!!!," Staley quipped on X.

The USA, who are atop Group C, joins France, Germany and Canada in the knockouts, with the four other berths yet to be decided.

Team USA next faces Puerto Rico, who is already eliminated from knockout contention. A win will give the Americans a 3-0 pool record and a better chance at a top seed, resulting in an easier knockout matchup.

Meanwhile, South Sudan faces Serbia in their last group game, which will have knockout-implications for both teams.

Against the USA, Nuni Omot and Carlik Jones led South Sudan with 42 combined points on more than 50% shooting, while LeBron James and Bam Adebayo combined for 30 points for the US.

US' dominant run was spearheaded by the bench, which totaled 66 points and 10 steals on 60% field goal efficiency and 66.6% 3-point shooting.

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Dawn Staley vouches for Caitlin Clark's Team USA inclusion

Dawn Staley was on the selection panel that didn't see Caitlin Clark as a Team USA fit. The committee cited her rookie stature and overall inexperience in the big league as prime factors behind her snub.

Nevertheless, days before a fan held a "You need Caitlin Clark to beat us" board in the USA's game against Japan, Dawn Staley said that she now believes Caitlin Calrk to be a great fit for the national team.

“If we had to do it all over again, the way that she’s playing, she would be in really high consideration of making the team because she is playing head and shoulders above a lot of people,” Dawn Staley said in an interview on July 28.

While Clark has not touched the 30-point mark since her snub on June 12, she has displayed increased confidence and efficiency. She has had a nearly 10% rise in her field goal efficiency since the second week of June, shooting 44.8% and a slight rise in her 3-point shooting, with 35% accuracy.