July 25, 2024
Will the Paris Olympics be déjà vu, or can anyone beat the U.S.?
Belgium, Australia and Japan among top contenders to topple U.S. gold dynasty
At a time when enthusiasm for women’s basketball is at an apex, we have arrived at the Paris Olympics. U.S. Olympic women’s basketball stars like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum are as visible in endorsements and in popular culture as any of the NBA names. But will they live up to the hype and help the U.S. bring home an eighth-consecutive 5-on-5 gold medal? There are 11 other teams, with superstars of their own, who have other plans. Take a look at the team capsules:
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Group A
China
10th Olympic appearance — silver in 1992, bronze in 1984, fifth in Tokyo; Head coach: Zheng Wei
After its silver medal at the 2022 World Cup and victory at the 2023 Asia Cup, China has struggled in its Paris warm up games, going 1-11 against teams from the field. Guard Li Meng led the X’ian Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) with 19.3 points per game (ppg), while 6’9 center Han Xu added 12. Center Li Yueru, standing 6’7, recorded 15.3 points and 14.3 rebounds in the OQT and 14.8 and 8.3 at the Tokyo Games.
Puerto Rico
Second Olympic appearance — 12th in Tokyo; Head coach: Jerry Batista
After coming up short in wins at its Olympic debut in Tokyo, Puerto Rico advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. Arella Guirantes led the Sydney World Cup with 18.2 points per game, while Mya Hollingshed scored 13. Guirantes also led the team at the OQT with 15 ppg.
Serbia
Third Olympic appearance — bronze in 2016, fourth in Tokyo; Head coach: Marina Maljković
Point guard Yvonne Anderson is carrying the program following the retirements of Sonja Vasić and Jelena Brooks. Anderson, a former Texas Longhorn led the Belém OQT with 19.3 points per game and scored 30 versus Brazil. She also averaged 14 points in Tokyo, and at the 2022 World Cup, was fourth in scoring (15 ppg) and first in assists (6.5). Serbia also boasts 6’5 center Dragana Stanković, who registered 14 ppg in the OQT and 6’3 forward Tina Krajišnik, who grabbed 7.7 rebounds at the World Cup.
Spain
Sixth Olympic appearance — silver in 2016, sixth in Tokyo; Head coach: Miguel Mendez
Teams can use one naturalized player in international competition. For Spain, American Megan Gustafson replaces Astou Ndour-Fall. It will be a tall task, as the Senegalese forward was second in Tokyo with 21 points per game. Gustafson led Spain with 14.3 at the OQT. After failing to make the World Cup in 2022, Spain was second at EuroBasket in 2023. Alba Torrens, Maite Cazorla and Laura Gil are returning, but familiar faces like Laia Palau and Silvia Domínguez are not.
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Group B
Australia
10th Olympic appearance — silver in 2000, 2004 and 2008; bronze in 1996 and 2012; eighth in Tokyo; Head coach: Sandy Brondello
Lauren Jackson, the Hall of Famer and the Olympics’ career scoring leader, is back for the first time since London 2012. At 43, she proved she still can contribute, scoring 50 in a recent club team game. It will be the young players who pace the Opals in Paris though. Ezi Magbegor was the MVP of the Belém OQT with 12.7 points per game. When the team won the bronze medal at the World Cup it hosted two years ago, Steph Talbot was among the competition’s leading rebounders (6.9) and passers (5.3). They will be without forward Rebecca Allen, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury earlier today. She is replaced by guard-forward Amy Atwell.
Canada
Eighth Olympic appearance — fourth in 1984, ninth in Tokyo; Head coach: Víctor Lapeña
Canada looks to erase a disappointing finish in Tokyo. Placing fourth at the World Cup was a good rebound. Kayla Alexander registered 16 points and 13.7 rebounds at the Sopron OQT and was second in rebounding at the 2022 World Cup with 9.6. In addition, Bridget Carleton scored 14 per game in Sopron and led the team with 12.8 ppg in Sydney. Laeticia Amihere and Aaliyah Edwards will play greater roles than the ones they possessed as students in Tokyo. The new teenagers — Cassandre Prosper (19) and Syla Swords (18) — will gain valuable learning experience.
France
Fifth Olympic appearance — silver in 2012, bronze in Tokyo; Head coach: Jean-Aimé Toupane
Gabby Williams was the MVP of the X’ian OQT with 16.3 points per game. She was also third in scoring at the 2022 World Cup with 15.8. Marine Johannes also contributed 14 ppg in the OQT. Leïla Lacan, who turned 20 in June, scored more than 17 per game in the U19 World Cup last year.
Nigeria
Third Olympic appearance — 11th in 2004, eleventh in Tokyo; Head coach: Rena Wakama
Amy Okonkwo led Nigeria at the Antwerp OQT with 15.3 points per game and added six rebounds, which was just behind Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah’s 6.3. The four-time defending AfroBasket champions also return Promise Amukamara at point guard.
Group C
Belgium
Second Olympic appearance — seventh in Tokyo; Head coach: Rachid Meziane
Emma Meesseman might just be the Most Valuable Player in the tournament. In Tokyo, the 6’4 forward led the competition with 26.8 points (including 32 vs Australia) and was second behind South Korea’s Ji-Su Park in rebounding with 10.5. She was the MVP of EuroBasket in 2023, winning the gold medal, and was then named MVP of the OQT in Antwerp. In the OQT, she averaged 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists, but she wasn’t alone. Julie Vanloo recorded 13.7 points and 5.7 assists, and Julie Allemand led the event with 6.7 assists. Belgium will be without Allemand, however, who was ruled out of the entire Olympic tournament with an injury. 19-year-old Nastja Claessens will replace Allemand for the tournament.
Germany
Debuting in first Olympics; Head coach: Lisa Thomaidis
Leonie Fiebich led Germany at the Belem OQT with 18 points per game, while Satou Sabally added 12.7. Satou and her younger sister, Nyara, are leading the Golden Age of German basketball in the lead up to its hosting of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup. The Paris Olympics will be the program’s first major competition since hosting the 1998 World Cup. A late addition is Alexis Peterson, the former Syracuse guard, who recently naturalized.
Japan
Sixth Olympic appearance — silver in Tokyo; Head coach: Toru Ontsuka
Mai Yamamoto was the MVP of the Sopron OQT with 17 points per game. Meanwhile, Evelyn Mawuli added 14 points and Saori Miyazaki led the event with six assists per game. Returning from its surprise silver in Tokyo is that event’s assist leader Rui Machida (12.5) and the team’s leading scorer Maki Takada (14 ppg).
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United States
12th Olympic appearance — nine-time gold medalists, gold in Tokyo; Head coach: Cheryl Reeve
At the last Olympics in Tokyo, A’ja Wilson and Brittney Griner equaled for a team-leading 16.5 points, while Breanna Stewart added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Napheesa Collier was the team’s leading scorer at the OQT with 19 per game, but she has been playing sparingly with a foot injury recently. Wilson also scored 12.9 points per game and was named the MVP of the World Cup, while Alyssa Thomas led the USA in rebounding there with seven per game. With a sixth gold medal, Diana Taurasi can go out on top. Not only would Taurasi pass Sue Bird in gold medals, she would join Hungarian fencer Aladár Gerevich and German equestrian Isabell Werth (competing in Paris) as the only athletes in Olympic history with gold medals in at least six Games.
The action begins with Group A on Sunday, while the U.S. opens against Japan at 3 p.m. ET on Monday. The Americans face Belgium at 3 p.m. ET on Aug. 1 and Germany at 11:15 a.m. ET. The quarterfinals are set for Aug. 7 and semifinals Aug. 9, with it all culminating in the Aug. 11 gold medal game.
Written by Scott Mammoser
Scott Mammoser has covered major international events for FIBA, World Athletics and the International Skating Union. He has been to six Olympics and traveled to more than 90 countries.
