THREE THINGS TO WATCH
Here are three things to watch late Monday, early Tuesday at the Olympics (all times Pacific).
1. Women’s soccer, U.S. vs. Australia (1 a.m. Tuesday, USA Network): When the group stage schedule was released, this was looked at as the final tuneup for the Americans. Now, after losing its opener, the U.S. likely must win or draw to advance. The Americans are 2613 against the Aussies, but the series is 111 in the past three meetings. Both teams lost to Sweden and beat New Zealand, but the U.S. is plus2 in goal differential (thanks to a 61 win over the Kiwis) and Australia is minus1. Sam Kerr is the Matildas’ top scoring threat (45 goals in 95 international games).
2. Softball goldmedal game, U.S. vs. Japan (4 a.m. Tuesday, NBCSN): The biggest name in this game might be Nepartak. That’s not a player or a coach, but rather the name of the tropical storm bearing down on Japan. Several events have already been moved or canceled and — after the U.S. closed pool play with a 21 walkoff win over Japan (on Kelsey Stewart’s leadoff HR) — the NBC broadcasting team said there have been discussions that if the championship game is delayed two or more days, the gold medal may be awarded to the U.S., which ended pool play unbeaten. 3. Women’s basketball, U.S. vs. Nigeria (9:30 p.m. Monday, USA Network): The U.S. women are an Olympic dynasty. A gold medal in Tokyo would be the seventh straight for the Americans, equaling the record run of the U.S. men (193668). Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi are in their fifth Olympics. In the 2016 Rio Games, the Americans averaged 102.1 points in their eight games and shot 57.7% from the field (the only team to top 47%). Stanford alum Nneka Ogwumike was barred by FIBA from exercising her dual citizenship and playing for Nigeria, the birthplace of her parents.