The United States Women’s National Team begins women’s basketball Group C play against Japan on Monday at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The United States, which has won the past seven Olympic gold medals in the sport, has not lost in Olympic play since 1992, when it took the bronze medal. Japan, meanwhile, is looking to build on its second-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when it was beaten by the United States in the title game. In the five previous Olympic meetings between the teams, the United States holds a 4-1 edge.
Tipoff from Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France, is set for 3 p.m. ET. The United States cruised to a 90-75 win in the gold medal game in Tokyo in the last meeting with Japan. Team USA is favored by 19.5 points in the latest United States vs. Japan odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 161.5. Before making any Japan vs. Team USA picks or 2024 Paris Olympics men’s basketball predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s Calvin Wetzel has to say.
Wetzel, HerHoopStats.com lead betting writer, incorporates his mathematical background and strong knowledge of women’s hoops to turn the site’s prediction model into picks. After teaming up with Aaron Barzilai, a Ph.D. from Stanford, Wetzel is an incredible 1,385-988 (+372.33 units) on women’s college basketball picks since the start of the 2021-22 season. He’s also coming off a great 2023 season with a 238-185-1 overall record that featured a return on investment of nearly 7%. Anyone following him has seen huge returns.
Now, Wetzel has broken down USA vs. Japan and the Paris Olympics 2024 odds and revealed his best bets. You can find his picks only at SportsLine. Here are the lines and trends for Japan vs. USA:
- United States vs. Japan spread: United States -19.5
- United States vs. Japan over/under: 161.5 points
- United States vs. Japan money line: United States -4000, Japan +1200
- USA: The Americans are 21-2 all-time against the Japanese in all events since 1975
- JPN: The Japanese last defeated the United States 84-71 at the 1976 Olympics
- United States vs. Japan picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why Team USA can cover
The United States has not lost in over a decade and will feature an all-star cast of players that hone their skills in the WNBA. One of those players is center Brittney Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and six time WNBA All-Star. In her 10-year professional career, all with the Phoenix Mercury, Griner averages 17.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.7 blocks in 30.5 minutes. In 31 games this season, she is averaging 17.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Shooting guard Diana Taurasi is the oldest player on the team at 42 but brings a wealth of experience to the team. She is a five-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time WNBA champion. In 19 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, she has averaged 19.1 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 30.8 minutes. In 26 games for the Mercury last season, she averaged 16 points and 4.6 assists. In 2006, she set a WNBA record by averaging 25.3 points per game. See the picks at SportsLine.
Why Japan can cover
Japan has a roster with several dynamic scorers. Among the team leaders is small forward Saki Hayashi, the team captain. She was a member of the 2020 Olympic silver medalist team that lost to the United States and competes in the Women’s Japan Basketball League. The 29-year-old is a member of the JX-Eneos Sunflowers, and this past season, she averaged 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.
Also helping power the Japanese is 6-foot-1 center Maki Takada. The 34-year-old was also an Olympian in 2016 and 2020. She plays professionally for the Denso Iris of the Women’s Japan Basketball League. She averages 14.4 points, 2.8 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game. She is connecting on 51.9% of her field goals, including a league-best 48.5% from 3-point range. She is also an 80.2% free-throw shooter. See the picks at SportsLine.
How to make Japan vs. United States picks
Wetzel has analyzed Team USA vs. Japan from every angle, and he’s leaning Under on the point total. He has also found a critical X-factor that has him jumping all over one side of the spread. He’s sharing what it is, and which side to back, only at SportsLine.
So who wins Team USA vs. Japan in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and what critical x-factor makes one side of the spread a must back? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the expert with a history of crushing his women’s basketball picks, and find out.
