With their 59th consecutive victory at an Olympic Games, the women’s basketball team is getting closer to their tenth gold medal.

Led by A’ja Wilson’s 20 points and Jackie Young’s 15 points, the USA defeated Nigeria by a clear margin of 88-74.

However, the game was closer for much of the first half than the U.S. team probably would have liked. Nigeria’s strong defense kept the score close in the first quarter until the U.S. pulled away just before halftime.

The USA – comprised of WNBA superstars – extended their lead in the second half and at one point nearly doubled Nigeria’s lead. But Nigeria stayed close.

In addition to Wilson and Young, teammate Brittney Griner and Breanna Stewart were also strong on the ball.

“We have to get off to a great start because the team on the other end is trying to take our head off,” Wilson, 27, told reporters, including PEOPLE, with a laugh after the game. “When they want something, they’re hungry for it. So we knew we had to get off to a great start and strike first, just because it’s like March Madness during this time, you never know what’s going to happen and you always have to be on your guard. So I’m glad we got into the flow of the game.”

Veteran Diana Taurasi, who is competing in her sixth Olympic Games, told reporters that the U.S. team does not take any game for granted despite its long winning streak.

“We’ve won – I don’t know how many gold medals in a row – but the tournament isn’t going to win us. We have to go out there and play hard,” said Taurasi, 42. “Nigeria, Australia in two days. These teams are tough, they’ve been playing together for a long time. We’ve been together for two and a half weeks trying to figure it out. And being selfless has always been our strength. It’s the next man, the next woman’s turn to win a gold medal.”

Team USA athletes were on hand in large numbers to support the basketball team. Katie Ledecky, who recently finished her Games in Paris with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal, sat courtside with former NBA star Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Phelps, his wife Nicole Johnson and their 7-month-old son Nico, as well as former swimmer Allison Schmidtt, who lives with the Phelps.

LeBron James also entered the arena hand-in-hand with his wife Savannah James and sat next to fellow NBA player and U.S. basketball star Bam Adebayo. LeBron wore a bandage over his left eye after he was elbowed in the face the night before during the men’s team’s win over Brazil and required stitches. His former Miami Heat teammate Dwyane Wade was also in attendance, along with his wife, actress Gabrielle Union.

The next semifinal game for the US women’s basketball team will be against Australia on August 9.

To learn more about all the Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls, visit people.com for the latest coverage before, during and after the Games. And sign up for Going for Gold, our Olympic newsletter, to get the most important stories from the Games delivered straight to your inbox. Watch the Paris Olympics and Paralympics on NBC and Peacock starting July 26.