The U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team wrapped up group play at the Paris Games with a 3-0 record and will now continue the quest for an eighth consecutive gold medal with a quarterfinal matchup against Nigeria on Wednesday.
The last time the U.S. women’s 5×5 team lost an Olympic game was in the semifinals of the 1992 Barcelona Games, and there’s no reason to expect that streak to end against Nigeria. When the two teams met in a FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament earlier this year, Team USA cruised to a 54-point win, and that was without A’ja Wilson.
Wilson, who has established herself as the clear-cut best player in the world during the current WNBA season, is averaging 20.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, two steals and two blocks on 56.8% shooting in the tournament so far. Together with Breanna Stewart, the reigning WNBA MVP, she gives the Americans what has thus far been an unstoppable dynamic duo. Stewart, for her part, is putting up 20.3 points, on 62.5% shooting, to go along with six rebounds and two blocks.
Nigeria opened the tournament by upsetting medal favorite Australia and later made history by becoming the first African team — men or women — to qualify for the quarterfinals in the Olympics. They are led by Ezinne Kalu, who is averaging 19.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and three assists.
There are 12 countries in the Olympic women’s basketball tournament, and they were separated into three four-team groups. The top two teams in each group were guaranteed a spot in the knockout rounds. Despite losing on Sunday, Germany finished top two in Group C and also earned a spot in the quarterfinals.
When forming this Team USA roster, the selection committee favored experienced veterans. Their collective resume is impressive, to say the least, as every single player has won a gold medal in the Olympics or the World Cup. The group is led by Wilson and Stewart, but the squad has plenty othrer recognizable names, including veteran guard Diana Taurasi, who is competing in her sixth and final Olympic Games.
Team USA roster
| Player | Position | WNBA Team |
|---|---|---|
|
Forward |
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|
Guard/Forward |
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|
Guard |
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|
Center |
Phoenix Mercury |
|
|
Guard |
||
|
Guard |
||
|
Guard |
Las Vegas Aces |
|
|
Breanna Stewart |
Forward |
New York Liberty |
|
Diana Taurasi |
Guard |
Phoenix Mercury |
|
Forward |
||
|
A’ja Wilson |
Forward |
Las Vegas Aces |
|
Guard |
Las Vegas Aces |
Team USA schedule
2024 WNBA All-Star Game (Phoenix)
- July 20: Team WNBA 117, Team USA 109
USA Basketball Showcase (London)
- July 23: Team USA 84, Germany 57
2024 Olympics Group Stage (Lille)
- July 29: Team USA 102, Japan 76
- Aug. 1: Team USA 87, Belgium 74
- Aug. 4: Team USA 87, Germany 68
2024 Olympics Knockout Stage (Paris)
- Quarterfinals, Aug. 7: Team USA vs. Nigeria, 3:30 p.m. — USA Network
- Semifinals, Aug. 9: TBD vs. TBD, 11:30 a.m. or 3 p.m. — TBD
- Gold medal game, Aug. 11: TBD vs. TBD, 9:30 a.m. — TBD
Team USA outlook
The American women have not lost a game in a major international tournament since 2006 and have not lost a game at the Olympics since 1992. They are, by far, the best team in the world, and are once again massive favorites to take home the gold medal on Sunday.
Assuming they move to the semifinals on Friday, they would likely face a tougher test in Australia, who are led by WNBA Defensive Player of the Year candidate Ezi Magbegor, WNBA Most Improved Player contender Alanna Smith and former WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson.
