The Olympic tournament started on Sunday as the twelve teams were divided into three groups of four teams. The first stage involves three games against the other teams in the group and the top two teams automatically advance while the records of the third-place teams will be compared and the two out of the three teams that performed the best will complete the quarterfinal field.
Group A
The first two games were on Sunday in this group and the tournament certainly delivered early. China had the lead early, feeding Li Yueru in the post, but could not hang on late in the fourth quarter. Spain forced overtime and did enough in the extra frame behind the duo of Megan Gustafson and Leonor Rodriguez to prevail 90-89. The other game was supposed to be straightforward and Serbia looked ready to cruise early, but completely faded down the stretch and had to hold on at the end for a 58-55 win over Puerto Rico.
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/womens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/117662-ESP-CHN#boxscore
Spain [90]: Gustafson 29/8r Rodriguez 25 Casas 8/7r/8a Cazorla 8 Ortiz 7 Araujo 6 Gil 5 Torrens 2 Romero 0 Ginzo 0 Vilaro DNP Conde DNP
China [89]: Li YR 31/15r Li M 13/11a Sun 10 Huang 9/7r Han 8 Wang 8 Yang LI 4/8a Zhang 4 Li Y 2 Wu 0 Yang SY DNP Luo DNP
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/womens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/117660-SRB-PUR#boxscore
Serbia [58]: Stankovic 15/10r Nogic 14/7a Cado 10 Jankovic 8 Anderson 7/8r Raca 4 Krajisnik 0/8r Dugalic 0 Katanic 0 Smailbegovic 0 Djordjevic 0 Jovanovic DNP
Puerto Rico [55]: San Antonio 11 Hollingshed 8/6r Rosado 8/7a Benitez 6 Quinones 5 Melendez 4/6r Roma 4/6r Gibson 3 Guirantes 2 Jones 2 Pagan 2 Perez 0
Group B
The first game on Monday was in this group and Nigeria returned to the global stage by building a lead by halftime only to see Australia narrow the gap in the third quarter, but fall back again in a 75-62 loss. Hosts France trailed after one quarter, but dominated the second quarter to build a big lead, coasting past Canada 75-54. For the recap of that game, visit here: https://wbasketballblog.com/2024/07/29/team-canada-opens-with-a-loss-to-team-france-in-their-opening-game-of-the-paris-olympics/
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/womens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/117667-NGR-AUS#boxscore
Nigeria [75]: Kalu 19 Amukamara 14/6r/9a Okonkwo 13 Musa 11/7r Balogun 9 Enabosi 4 Kunaiyi-Akpanah 3/7r Ejiofor 2 Ebo 0 Taiwo DNP Okoro DNP Adeyeye DNP
Australia [62]: Smith 15/7r Whitcomb 13 Melbourne 11 Magbegor 9 Jackson 6 Talbot 3/12r/10a Wallace 2 Madgen 2 Borlase 1 Tolo 0 George 0 Atwell DNP
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/womens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/117665-CAN-FRA#boxscore
Canada [54]: Colley 11/6a Nurse 11 Carleton 8/8r Hill 7 Alexander 6/10r Achonwa 4 Swords 4 Fields 2 Edwards 1/8r Prosper 0 Amihere 0 Ejim DNP
France [75]: Badiane 13/6r Williams 12/8a Ayayi 7 Johannes 7 Lacan 7 Malonga 7 Chery 5 Michel 5 Salaun 5 Bernies 5 Fauthoux 2 Rupert DNP
Group C
There was a lot of intrigue about seeing Germany’s full lineup in action along with a naturalized player and it was an excellent start for them on the global stage with an early lead helping them to an unexpectedly easy 83-69 win over Emma Meesseman and Belgium. The day ended with a rematch of the gold medal game from three years ago and there was no difference in the result with A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart leading the United States to a 102-76 win. Maki Takada led Japan, which continued to play with their preferred style.
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/womens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/117669-GER-BEL#boxscore
Germany [83]: S. Sabally 17/6r N. Sabally 16 Fiebich 16 Peterson 15/8a Buhner 11 Geiselsoder 6 Gulich 2/7r Sontag 0 Wilke 0 Hartmann DNP Bessoir DNP Bar DNP
Belgium [69]: Meesseman 25 Vanloo 18/6a Linskens 12/6r Lisowa Mbaka 5 Delaere 3 Be. Massey 2 Mununga 2 Ramette 2 Resimont 0 Claessens DNP Bi. Massey DNP Joris DNP
https://www.fiba.basketball/en/events/womens-olympic-basketball-tournament-paris-2024/games/117671-USA-JPN#boxscore
United States [102]: Wilson 24/13r Stewart 22/8r Griner 11/9r Ionescu 11 Plum 11 Young 7 Copper 4 Collier 4 Thomas 2/6r Taurasi 2 Loyd 2 Gray 2/13a
Japan [76]: Takada 24 Yamamoto 17 Miyazaki 12 Machida 6 Hayashi 6 Akaho 5 Motohashi 3 E. Mawuli 2 S. Mawuli 1 Todo 0 Miyazawa 0 Yoshida 0
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