While Victor Wembanyama and his troops caused concern in preparation, the French team's record was perfect. The French women's team won all five of its matches before the 2024 Olympics, even if the two duels with Finland were too unbalanced, but the victories against Serbia, Japan and China in the aftermath displayed the strengths of Jean-Aimé Toupane's team, which can clearly aim for the podium.
As with the men, the emphasis is on defense on the Blues' side, with Marine Johannès being used as a “super joker” off the bench, while the young and talented Dominique Malonga weighs in on short sequences.
But the big favorites of the competition are obviously the United States. Even if the new phenomenon Caitlin Clark is not there, Team USA can rely on a great armada, behind A'ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, Brittney Griner, Alyssa Thomas and the eternal Diana Taurasi. The American team thus remains on seven consecutive victories at the Olympic Games, piling up gold medals since 1996…
THE FAVORITES
*****
UNITED STATES
Much has been made of the absence of Caitlin Clark or Arike Ogunbowale, but those present still form a hell of a force to be reckoned with. Just the duo A'ja Wilson – Breanna Stewart has the potential to give any opponent a headache, and there are plenty of people to help them on the outside lines with Kahleah Cooper, Jewell Lloyd, Napheesa Collier, Sabrina Ionescu, Jackie Young or Kelsey Plum. All in the Top 10 of the best scorers of the current season in the WNBA.
Their male counterparts, who nevertheless sent the “Avengers” to France, seem to have much less margin on the competition than this version of Team USA. And it is hard to see Cheryl Reeve's players missing the eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal for the American women's 5×5…
****
Australia, Belgium, France, Spain and Japan
To tease them, there will still be some outsiders. With its WNBA contingent, led by Sandy Brondello, the coach of the New York Liberty, theAustralia presents itself with ambitions… and Lauren Jackson, who has come out of retirement to compete in her fifth Olympic Games! At 43, she has so far always come up against the United States at the Olympics, while still compiling three silver medals and a bronze medal.
Silver medalist of the last EuroBasket, theSpain d'Alba Torres seems to be in transition between two generations and so she blows a little hot and cold. But as with the men, her playing academy allows her to always be able to go for a medal while the Belgiumled by Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo, has the wind at its back. Even if Julie Allemand's injury is a hard blow.
Rachid Méziane's Belgian Cats are still the reigning European champions, having beaten Les Bleues in the semi-finals, and they were not far from beating Team USA at the OQT in Antwerp. Of course, the Americans had already qualified and it was not the entire current team, but it took Breanna Stewart to save the country…
With his unique game, based on speed and outside shooting, the Japan hopes to do as well as in Tokyo, where the team made it to the final. Now expected, the reigning Olympic vice-champions will undoubtedly have a hard time repeating the feat, but playing this team in a knockout match will not be a gift.
As for the Team of Franceafter turning the page on Valérie Garnier, she prepared for her Olympic Games without Sandrine Gruda. But the current generation of executives of the Bleues is mature, behind Marine Johannès, Gabby Williams or Valériane Ayayi, and there therefore seems to be room to have a good run. To the final? To do this, it will be necessary to have better tactical and mental management than in previous campaigns, and that starts with good management of the group stage, in a tough and particularly physical group.
***
Canada, China and Serbia
Even though its squad is not far from the previously mentioned nations, the Canada seems a little below par, especially because of an imbalance between a developing external sector and an already established internal sector. During the last preparatory match against Spain, the pressure from La Roja thus extinguished Bridget Carleton's group.
The size of the China had allowed them to win the silver medal at the 2022 World Cup, knocking out France in the quarter-finals and then Australia in the semi-finals. However, since then, Li Meng and his teammates have had a string of disappointing results, and a new medal seems an increasingly unrealistic goal.
About the Serbialong a stronghold of European basketball with two EuroBasket titles in particular, in 2015 and 2021, it is currently in a generational slump…
**
Germany, Nigeria and Puerto Rico
Finally, for theGermanyTHE Nigeria And Porto Ricothe challenge will already be to get out of the group stage.
PLAYERS TO FOLLOW
A'ja Wilson
The most dominant player in the WNBA right now. Double defending champion with Las Vegas (2022 and 2023), double MVP (2020 and 2022), double DPOY (2022 and 2023), the center has everything to reign over these Olympic Games and go up a notch in terms of media coverage. Perfect as Nike will soon launch its signature model…
Emma Meesseman
She's a bit like the European counterpart of A'ja Wilson. The Belgian has won the Euroleague six times (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024) and has been the competition's MVP twice (2023 and 2024). Last year, she led the Belgian Cats to the European title, also winning the EuroBasket MVP title.
Marine Johannes
The frustration of her absence during the last EuroBasket now seems to be ancient history. For her return, Jean-Aimé Toupane has however entrusted her with a role of dynamite coming off the bench. One could question this tactical choice, but the Blues' full-back has gradually found her marks. With her long-range accuracy and her vision, she is the one who makes the difference in this team, and it is undoubtedly she who holds the French destiny in her own hands.
Ezi Magbegor
Liz Cambage pushed out gone, Ezi Magbegor is the new locomotive of Australian basketball. At 24, her defensive presence and mobility will in any case be the basis of her team's game. Let's remember that with 2.4 “blocks” per game, she is the second best blocker of the current WNBA season, behind A'ja Wilson.
Dominique Malonga
Barely 18 years old, Dominique Malonga is the latest nugget of French basketballwho could leave very quickly during the WNBA Draft in 2025. After a superb season in Tarbes, the 1m98 center has already joined the French A team, where she comes off the bench, just like Marine Johannès. The understanding between the two has also been a particularly interesting point of the preparation, and a great reason for hope for the competition.
Lauren Jackson
We thought she was definitely retired from the courts, after a formidable career, in the WNBA, the Euroleague and the national team. But after six years away from the courts, the now 43-year-old center returned to the game in the Australian championship, in a semi-professional team that played in a hall bearing her name…
COMPOSITION
GROUP A
China, Spain, Puerto Rico and Serbia
GROUP B
Australia, Canada, France and Nigeria
GROUP C
Germany, Belgium, United States and Japan
CALENDAR
Sunday July 28
Spain – China at 1:30 p.m.
Serbia – Puerto Rico at 9pm
Monday July 29
Nigeria – Australia at 11:00
Germany – Belgium at 1:30 p.m.
Canada – France at 5:15 p.m.
United States – Japan at 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday July 31
Puerto Rico – Spain at 11:00
China – Serbia at 1:30 p.m.
Thursday August 1st
Japan – Germany at 11:00
Australia – Canada at 1:30 p.m.
France – Nigeria at 5:15 p.m.
Belgium – United States at 9:00 p.m.
Saturday August 3rd
China – Puerto Rico at 11:00
Serbia – Spain at 1:30 p.m.
Sunday August 4th
Japan – Belgium at 11:00
Canada – Nigeria at 1:30 p.m.
Germany – United States at 5:15 p.m.
Australia – France at 9:00 p.m.
The rest of the competition will be out of sync with the men's draw. The quarter-finals will be played on August 7, the semi-finals on the 9th, and finally the final and the match for third place on August 11, at 3:00 p.m. and 11:30 a.m.
DIFFUSION
The live events, and therefore the basketball, will be broadcast on France 2 (9:30 a.m.-11:15 p.m.), France 3 (9 a.m.-11:50 p.m.) and the digital channel France.tv Paris 2024. But also on Eurosport channels.
