United States forward Breanna Stewart. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Breanna Stewart is cementing her legacy at 2024 Paris Olympics

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Aug 1, 2024 5:29 PM ET

Team USA forward Breanna Stewart was the star during Thursday's tough 87-74 win over Belgium.

She finished with a game-high 26 points on 8-of-14 shooting while adding seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal.

Stewart set the tone early, scoring 11 points in the game's first six minutes. She got whatever she wanted on the court, scoring close to the basket, from midrange and knocking down a transition three.

Breanna Stewart is showing EXACTLY why she’s one of the best players in the world. #ParisOlympics

USA Network and Peacock pic.twitter.com/XMjNyHvNVl
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 1, 2024

Stewart has been hot at the start of group play. In Monday's 102-76 win over Japan, she had 22 points on 11-of-15 shooting.

Per ESPN's Alexa Philippou, Stewart became the first Team USA women's basketball player to have consecutive 20-point games to start the Olympics since Teresa Edwards (1988). She was later joined by teammate A'ja Wilson, who finished Thursday's win with 23 points after scoring 24 points in the opener.

Breanna Stewart is the first player for the USA women since Teresa Edwards in 1988 to open an Olympics with consecutive 20-point games. She has 24 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists so far tonight.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) August 1, 2024

The two-time WNBA MVP is seeking her third gold medal. Stewart has improved in each tournament, going from a bench player in 2016 — averaging 8.1 points on 10.9 minutes per game — to a leading starter in 2021 while averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds in six games.

During her illustrious basketball career, Stewart also has four NCAA championships from her time at UConn, three Associated Press Player of the Year awards and two WNBA championships.

Stewart, 29, is already on the short list of all-time women's basketball greats, and the first two games of the 2024 Summer Olympics have fortified her legacy.

With potentially four games remaining in Paris, Stewart is just getting started.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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