Paris 2024 Olympic Women's Basketball Preview
Former Chicago stars Kahleah Copper and Emma Meesseman prepare for integral roles in their nation's medal chase.
Though no current Sky players are set to be involved in the Women’s Basketball tournament at the Paris Games, there will still be plenty of familiar faces taking part. 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper will represent the United States for the first time in an Olympics, European champions Emma Meesseman and Julie Allemand will aim to help Belgium add further silverware to last summer’s title, and Li Yueru, who was traded with Allemand in the series of deals that landed Angel Reese in Chicago, figures to be one of the key players for China. Elsewhere, Alanna Smith will reprise her role with Australia after a strong first half with the Lynx, Kayla Alexander will represent Canada and Gabby Williams aims to medal with France at their home games. Though their roster has not yet been officially revealed, Tina Krajišnik, who played with the Sky in 2022, should also feature for Serbia. Of course, many of the 12 teams are also stocked full of talented players from other WNBA and EuroLeague teams—with this set to be one of the most competitive tournaments to date. Let’s dive into my preview of the players and storylines to watch from each of the three groups!
Group A: China, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Spain
Player to Watch: Li Meng, China
Though Yueru and the always dangerous Han Xu create obvious advantages for China with their frightening size on the interior, a strong tournament from Meng could well decide the color of China’s medal (or if they get one at all). In the early phases of the tournament, China should have more than enough quality to surge past many of the teams they’ll encounter, but things will become more difficult in the second week of the Games. When China starts to square off against teams with other dominant interior players, the advantages inside will shrink and a strong scoring game from Meng on the perimeter could help swing things back in the Chinese’s favor. Meng’s form, however, could be a big concern for China as she only recently got back to practicing with the national squad after dealing with a leg injury in the first half of the season. If Meng finds her best shape (and rhythm as a shooter), it gives China an additional dynamic on the outside which should help to open things up marginally for Yueru and Xu on the inside. In the latter stages of the tournament, there may still be some spacing concerns for the Chinese but Meng near her best can only be a positive change in that respect.
Biggest Question Mark: Can Spain find their best game?
Megan Gustafson is the only WNBA regular in this Spanish squad, but it’s still flush with talent—many of whom play with powerhouse domestic clubs Avenida and Valencia. When several players are based with a small handful of elite domestic clubs, there are usually positive effects on chemistry, and it’s often easier for teams built in that way to achieve greater success in the oft-disjointed international game. That said, Spain (in some ways like their men’s team) have a tendency to run hot and cold. Because the Spanish leagues produce so many talented passers and shooters, there’s every potential for an elite offense to be built around a team full of Spaniards, but their performance at the Olympic qualifying tournament (OQT) in Sopron exemplified the pitfalls of their play. In the opening match against Japan, Spain were fairly beaten as their defense failed to contain Japan early, and their shotmaking didn’t catch up until the second half. On the interior, Spain do have Gustafson and talented domestic star Laura Gil, but there results will likely live or die with their success shooting the ball from behind the arc. They should comfortably move on from this group, but they’ll need their hot shooting nights to come at the right times in the knockout rounds if they are to medal.
Predicted Standings: China, Spain, Serbia, Puerto Rico
I think the Chinese and Spanish are relatively balanced teams, but the interior presence of Xu and Yueru and the often swarming perimeter defense of China’s domestic guards should be enough for them to win the head-to-head and the group. The battle for third (where 2/3 third place teams make the quarterfinals) should be an interesting one. Arella Guirantes and Mya Hollingshed give the Puerto Ricans an interesting outside presence (with Guirantes likely to be one of the tournament’s top scorers), but Serbia also have strength in that area with Yvonne Anderson and Jovana Nogić. Serbia’s edge inside is the differentiator.
Group B: Australia, Canada, France, Nigeria
Player to Watch: Laeticia Amihere, Canada
Sky fans have frequently called for Michaela Onyenwere to get more minutes, and it seems that Amihere has filled a similar role for Dream fans in the 2024 season. After a somewhat muted rookie season, Amihere was one of the biggest individual standouts at Athletes Unlimited this winter, and all seemed set for her sophomore season to be a big one. Instead, Amihere has been on court for only 52 minutes this season—with her 49 minutes during Canada’s OQT in February nearly equalling that total. The bigger role with Canada should mean Amihere has more room to spread her wings and, given this is one of the deepest Canada teams in recent memory, her play off the bench could be an x-factor. With her seemingly limitless energy slotted into a consistent role, Canada should be able to have success disrupting opponents’ offense whenever both teams’ starters sit—creating an advantage during what are often critical minutes. With so much quality and versatility in the team, all looks set for Canada to pull a notable upset at a tournament like this in the near future (maybe even in Paris). Of course, if Amihere is a key part of that happening, other teams may also be on the phone to Atlanta GM Dan Padover before the trade deadline on 8/20.
Biggest Question Mark: Can France medal once again?
Beyond the obvious standouts like Marine Johannès and Williams, there is plenty of other talent in this squad—even if some have little-to-no WNBA experience. Valériane Ayayi, for instance, is off the back of a very impressive season with Praha where she averaged 13 and 6 for a team that finished third place in the EuroLeague. Similarly, Iliana Rupert was a standout with Bologna in Italy (10.8 P and 5.6 R per game on 49/35/88 splits) and Leïla Lacan (14.5 PPG on 54% 3PT in EuroCup) showed enough to be drafted by the Connecticut Sun in the first round of April’s draft. Regardless of the lack of WNBA experience, this is a highly-talented French side with a roster which has not changed drastically since capturing the Bronze medal in Tokyo three summers ago. Sandrine Gruda, who was named in the team of the tournament in Japan, will be a big miss, but coach Jean-Aimé Toupane will feel that 18-year old Dominique Malonga—who was solid in France’s OQT and starred in the French league playoffs—is ready to absorb that responsibility inside. With the support of the home crowd also behind them, France—though probably not amongst the top favorites to do so prior to the tournament—have every chance to collect a third medal in 12 years.
Predicted Standings: Australia, France, Canada, Nigeria
I’ve talked little about Australia at this stage because I feel they’re comfortably the best team in this group. While each of the three other sides involved can give them issues, all (even France) would need a nearly flawless performance to actually pull out the victory. If Ezi Magbegor plays her best (which she usually does), I think the Aussies are the team most likely to beat the US—though no one probably will. France just edges Canada with Nigeria a distant fourth.
Group C: Belgium, Germany, Japan, United States
Player to Watch: Leonie Fiebich, Germany
Fiebich has turned heads amongst WNBA fans in this her ‘rookie’ season after a number of impressive performances against WNBA stars (like Copper) in the EuroLeague over the last few seasons. And while both Satou Sabally and Nyara Sabally may move the needle more for this German team (though even that is up for debate), it’s not reasonable to expect either at their best physically during this tournament. Nyara only recently returned to New York’s line-up and Satou will play for the first time since February during the tournament. They’re unlikely to be in game shape, and either carrying a heavy offensive load could cause them to burn out quickly. In steps Fiebich—a player who fits perfectly in a support role for Sandy Brondello but has all the qualities needed to be a number one option as well. In this brutal group with both of the finalists from the Tokyo games and the reigning EuroBasket champions, the Germans will need to lean on a player who can take that responsibility and carry it throughout the course of a game. With Zaragoza last season, Fiebich averaged 12.4 PPG in the EuroLeague., and her OQT performances—even with both Saballys healthy—were even better (18 p, 7 r, 1.7 steals per game). At the same time, Fiebich is also a standout defender who can guard a number of positions. Satou, of course, also brings this versatility, but I’d expect we’ll see Fiebich matched up on the opponent’s best player whenever possible as the Wings forward works her way back towards her best in Paris.
Biggest Question Mark: Can Belgium make more history?
Last summer, Meesseman and company lifted Belgium’s first ever international trophy by winning EuroBasket, and they’ll look to go one further by collecting the nation’s first global medal in Paris. Meesseman remains the key to all that her country does and is comfortably the best non-WNBA player competing at this tournament while coach Rachid Meziane, one of the brightest minds in Europe, returns to the bench after guiding the team to last summer’s title and nearly winning the EuroLeague with Villeneuve-d'Ascq. Allemand is a perfect supporting actor for Meesseman’s unique game, Julie Vanloo is another of the W’s impressive ‘rookies,’ Antonia Delaere will chip in with useful scoring and Kyara Linskens is a quality shot blocker who can take some defensive burden from Meesseman. In short, this group has enough of what they need across the board to add more hardware to their collection. Their overall depth and quality still lags behind the other medal contenders, but the game of basketball is often decided by stars and few (if any) shine brighter or more often than Meesseman.
Predicted Standings: United States, Belgium, Japan, Germany
The US will have to be at its best to avoid another close call against the Belgians—who they narrowly beat in the OQT in Antwerp. This US roster is stronger than the one in February, and I expect them to take care of business all the way to another gold. Germany have the talent to beat Japan but have lots of frightening question marks around the health of several top players. Japan have done well at recent major tournaments and could be a surprise package once again in Paris.