All eyes were on the American women on the Tokyo track Tuesday night ET as New Jersey native Sydney McLaughlin won gold and set a world record in the process in the women’s 400m hurdles.
On the court, the U.S. women’s basketball team puts an impressive Olympic winning streak on the line with a chance to advance. And, the U.S. women’s volleyball team — with plenty of Penn State connections — looks to get closer to a medal.
Here are five to watch — including the start of women’s golf and more skateboarding — and how to make sure you don’t miss any of the action.
NJ’s Sydney McLaughlin wins gold and sets record in women’s 400m hurdles crown
Sydney McLaughlin is golden.
The 21-year-old track star beat fellow American Dalilah Muhammad in a highly anticipated women’s 400m hurdles final at the Olympic Stadium Tuesday night.
McLaughlin bested her own world record with a time of 51.46 to win gold. Muhammad also beat McLaughlin’s previous world record with a time of 51.58, but it was only enough for her to earn silver.
Femke Bol of the Netherlands came in third at 52.03 seconds.
McLaughlin entered the race as the world record holder in the event, while Muhammad came in as the defending Olympic champion.
McLaughlin set the previous world record time of 51.90 against Muhammad at the U.S. Olympic Trials in June and also posted a better time than Muhammad in the semifinal round in Tokyo.
Track and field turns around and has another session beginning at 5:30 a.m. ET on Thursday. There will be finals in the women’s steeplechase, men’s hammer throw, men’s 800m and men’s 200m. On top of that, there will be action in the men’s decathlon, women’s heptathlon, women’s 1500m and women’s 400m.
Watch the second session on Peacock Thursday morning, or stream live on NBCOlympics.com.
Team USA tips off against Australia in women’s basketball quarterfinals
The U.S. women’s basketball has won 52 straight Olympic contests dating back to 1992. Now, the squad stands three more victories away from a seventh straight gold medal.
Team USA went 3-0 in the group stage by beating Nigeria, Japan and France. A’ja Wilson has been the leading scorer with over 20 points per game in her Olympic debut, while Breanna Stewart is averaging a double-double through three contests for the team coached by Philadelphia native Dawn Staley.
The Americans turn their attention to Australia, which entered the Olympics with the second-best odds at winning the tournament. Tipoff is at 12:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Without Liz Cambage, Australia lost its first two games to Belgium and China before picking up a 27-point win over Puerto Rico to qualify for the quarterfinals. The U.S. will not take the matchup lightly, though, after losing to Australia by a score of 70-67 in an exhibition on July 16.
Watch the game on USA Network at 12:40 a.m. ET Thursday, or stream live on NBCOlympics.com.
US women’s volleyball battles Dominican Republic in volleyball quarterfinals
The U.S. women’s volleyball team faced adversity throughout the preliminary round, and the road doesn’t get any easier going into the quarterfinals.
Team USA went 4-1 in round-robin action while dealing with apparent ankle injuries to two marquee players in Jordan Thompson and Jordyn Poulter. The first-place finish in Pool B earned the team a quarterfinal tilt against the Dominican Republic at 12 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
Thompson’s availability for Wednesday’s quarterfinal match is uncertain, though the team is hopeful she can return at some point in the elimination rounds. Poulter, meanwhile, exited Sunday’s comeback win over Italy and watched the remainder of the game from a wheelchair. Watch for Penn State alums Micha Hancock and Haleigh Washington.
The Dominican Republic lost its first three matches in Tokyo but turned things around with wins over Kenya and Japan to secure a quarterfinals berth.
Watch on NBC10 after midnight, or stream live on NBCOlympics.com.
Korda sisters lead Team USA into Olympic women’s golf tournament
Following Xander Schauffele’s win in the men’s tournament, Team USA is attempting to sweep Olympic golfing gold. The women’s tournament began at 6:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
The U.S. sent four golfers to the Kasumigaseki Country Club: No. 1 ranked Nelly Korda, sister Jessica Korda, two-time Olympian Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang. After missing out on the podium in the event’s 2016 Olympic return, Team USA will look to medal in the event for the first time since Margaret Abbott won gold in 1900.
Team USA is facing tough competition from South Korea, which also fields a roster of four. Defending gold medalist Inbee Park headlines a South Korean contingent that includes Jin Young Ko, Sei Young Kim and Hyo-Joo Kim. Park set an Olympic record with a 16-under 268 score in Rio.
Other contenders include Australia’s Minjee Lee and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.
Watch Tuesday night on Golf Channel, or stream live on NBCOlympics.com.
American skateboarders attempt to upset Japan in women’s park debut
Japan is poised to win its third straight gold to kick off the inaugural Olympic skateboarding competition.
After winning gold in the men’s and women’s street events last week, the host nation enters the women’s park final with a pair of medal favorites. Okamoto Misugu, 15, was well ahead of the competition in 2020, winning the X Games, Dew Tour and world titles that year.
The year delay for the Tokyo Olympics gave time for the competition to catch up. Japan’s Yosozumi Sakura and Great Britain’s Sky Brown are capable of doing the 540, the signature trick that could determine who wins gold in Tokyo. Japan’s final participant is 13-year-old Hiraki Kokona, who is the nation’s youngest Olympian ever.
Jordyn Barratt, Bryce Wettstein and Brighton Zeuner represent the U.S. in the event. Barrett’s best career finish was second place at the 2017 X Games, Wettstein’s was sixth place at the 2019 X Games and Zuener’s came with a pair of X Games wins in 2017 and 2018.
The action began with heats at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday ahead of the final at 11:30 p.m. ET. Watch on CNBC. Stream the qualification heats live on NBCOlympics.com and stream the final runs as well on NBCOlympics.com.
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