A'ja Wilson and the American women are favored for gold. But these countries can push them.
The world might have somewhat closed the gap on American basketball in recent years, but make no mistake. The Team USA women are still the rightful favorites to win another gold medal in Paris in mid-August.
How could anyone reasonably doubt a team featuring various MVPs, All-Stars and elite shooters like A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Plum and Diana Taurasi? The American women present an unmitigated basketball juggernaut, and it will be a massive failure for them to fall short of the top of the podium. Full stop.
However, it’s a good thing that this is sports, and nothing is telegraphed in advance. While Team USA should get gold here, there are a few countries with stout and deep rosters that can challenge the Americans in France.
Let’s break them down.
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The fifth-ranked Canadians (in the FIBA Basketball rankings) don’t have an unofficial All-Star team of difference-makers galore, but they’re not short on WNBA-caliber talent. Far from it.
Leading the way is Aaliyah Edwards, the standout rookie forward with a good blend of physicality and skill for the Washington Mystics. There’s also Kayla Alexander, a former role player for various WNBA teams who most recently won the FIBA Europe SuperCup Women’s MVP in 2022. She’s flanked by point guard and former WNBA All-Star Kia Nurse and four-time Olympian Natalie Achonwa.
It’ll probably be a tall order for Canada to upset the USA, but anything can happen in an international setting.
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The Australians are STACKED with all kinds of former and active WNBA players. I’m not even remotely exaggerating. And many are from the Seattle Storm.
Current Storm center Ezi Magbegor and sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb are prominent fixtures for the Australians. There’s also former three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson, who is back to pursue that elusive gold medal after roughly 12 years away from the Olympics.
The Australian roster is rounded out with (takes a breath) — the Phoenix Mercury’s Bec Allen, the Washington Mystics’ Jade Melbourne, the Minnesota Lynx’s Alanna Smith and the Los Angeles Sparks’ Stephanie Talbot. Needless to say, these women already have the chops to compete with the best of the best. Overlooking Australia would be a likely mistake.
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Coming off a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, the host French are hungry for some redemption.
Former WNBA player Gabby Williams is an electric talent, one of the more gifted all-around players in the entire field. The ascendance of pieces like Iliana Rupert, Marine Fauthoux and Janelle Salaun should also provide a great complementary boost to Williams. Rupert, in particular, is a valuable center with size who should be able to control the paint for the French.
This is a balanced French roster with experienced players who expect to be playing for the gold medal in front of their home nation’s fans.
