US women grouped with Japan, 2 others
The last time Team USA women’s basketball lost a 5x5 game at the Summer Olympics, some of the players who will play at the 2024 Paris Games hadn’t been born.
That last Olympic loss for the U.S. came at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and since then Team USA has won seven consecutive Olympic gold medals.
Are the U.S. women headed for an eighth gold?
The Olympic draw for group play was held Tuesday in Mies, Switzerland, and the U.S. will play Germany, Japan and Belgium in the preliminary round.
The women’s Olympic event begins July 28 in Lille, France, at Pierre Mauroy Stadium and concludes with the gold medal and bronze medal games Aug. 11 in Paris at Bercy Arena.
Here are the results from the draw:
Who is in what groups?
Group A: Serbia, Spain, China, Puerto Rico.
Group B: Canada, Nigeria, Australia, France.
Group C: Germany, United States, Japan, Belgium.
The top two teams from each group and the next two best third-place teams advance to the quarterfinals.
Who will the US play?
The United States will play Germany, Japan and Belgium. Japan won silver in the Tokyo Olympics (delayed a year to 2021 due to COVID-19), and Germany and Belgium are up-and-coming teams.
It’s not an easy group, but Group B is the most difficult.
What is the US schedule?
Here are the dates for the USA’s Group C games:
⬤ July 29, Japan.
⬤ Aug. 1, Belgium.
⬤ Aug. 4, Germany. Times will be announced later.
Who are the big names expected?
United States: A’ja Wilson, Jewell Lloyd, Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner.
Australia: Lauren Jackson, Jade Melbourne, Tess Magden, Marianna Tolo, Isobel Borlase, Bec Allen, Ezi Magbegor, Cayla George, Alanna Smith.
Belgium: Emma Meesseman, Julie Vanloo, Julie Allemand.
Canada: Kia Nurse, Kayla Alexander, Bridget Carlton, Natalie Achonwa. China: Li Meng, Li Yueru, Han Xu. France: Gabby Williams, Marine Johannes, Janelle Salaun.
Germany: Leonie Fiebich, Nyara Sabally, Satou Sabally, Marie Gulich.
Japan: Mai Yamamoto, Saori Miyazaki.
Nigeria: Amy Okonkwo, Elizabeth Balogun.
Puerto Rico: Arella Guirantes, Mya Hollingshed.
Serbia: Yvonne Henderson, Jovana Nogic, Dragana Stankovic.
Spain: Megan Gustafson, Lauri Gil, Raquel Carrera.