Team USA's Copper draws tech for reacting to Nigeria's last-second bucket

PARIS (AP) — First-time Olympian Kahleah Copper got the rebound and helped the U.S. dribble out the shot clock in the final seconds with no need for another bucket to pad an already huge lead at the Paris Games.

Nigeria then saw the chance to score and beat the buzzer. Shooters shoot, and Ezinne Kalu drove to the basket for a final two points.

Or so everyone thought.

The buzzer went off on what seemed to be an 88-73 win by the U.S. over Nigeria on Wednesday night in the Olympic women's basketball quarterfinals. But officials called a technical foul on Copper for how the American took issue with Nigeria scoring after the U.S. willingly turned the ball over.

Nigeria captain Amy Okonkwo went to the line for a free throw and dropped the ball through the net for a final score of 88-74.

U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve called it an unfortunate misunderstanding after the U.S. turned the ball over rather than shoot. Reeve noted this is not pool play where point differential matters. It's simply win or lose based on the final score.

“We expected that they would then just dribble the clock out,” Reeve said. “Apparently their coach (Rena Wakama) told Kalu to go ahead and go score. So we just explained that that was probably not the most respectful thing to do at the end of the day.”

U.S. stars like Diana Taurasi visited with Olympic swimming great Michael Phelps, who sat courtside cheering on the Americans.

The Nigerians met up with family and friends to commemorate the African nation's historic moment as the first male or female team ever to make the Olympic basketball quarterfinals.

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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games