Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists France are preparing to compete in their home Games after qualifying automatically as the host nation. Les Bleues’ best result at the Olympics came at London 2012 where they claimed silver after losing 86-50 to the USA in the final. They will be aiming to go one better when they compete on home soil this summer.
The USA’s quota for Paris 2024 was secured with their victory in the last edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. A’Ja Wilson was the star of the final with her 19 points helping to secure an 83-61 victory over People’s Republic of China on 1 October 2022.
The USA have now won 11 world titles and nine Olympic golds, including the last seven. They will once again be handed the favourites tag when they compete at the Games in France.
After a narrow last-second loss to the USA in the first match of the tournament, Belgium bounced back to secure a 97-66 win over Senegal – and with it a quota for Paris 2024. In Emma Meesseman Belgium have a player with the skill and experience to trouble any opposition, as she proved in the quota-winning game where she scored 32 of her team’s points and registered seven rebounds.
Nigeria also obtained a quota for Paris at the Olympic qualifiers in Belgium. They began the tournament with a win over continental rivals Senegal and, despite losing in the second game against the USA, Belgium’s subsequent victory over Senegal secured Nigeria’s spot at the next Olympic Games. Paris 2024 will be the third Olympics Nigeria has qualified for and the second in a row after Tokyo 2020.
Puerto Rico secured back-to-back quotas for the Olympic Games after their 69-67 victory over New Zealand in the second game of the qualifying tournament in People’s Republic of China was enough to secure their spot in Paris. With already-qualified hosts France winning their first two games in the tournament, Puerto Rico were assured of that vital top 3 finish that will see them compete in the Olympic basketball competition in the capital of France.
Despite losing to France 82-50 in the second game of their home qualifying tournament, People’s Republic of China obtained their quota for Paris courtesy of their opening game victory over New Zealand and results in the second round of games going their way. The Chinese team were rampant in that first game, scoring 94 points to New Zealand’s 47. Paris 2024 will represent their 10th appearance at the Olympics and they will be hoping to go deep in the competition having won bronze at Los Angeles 1984 and silver at Barcelona 1992.
Australia’s victories in their first two games of the qualification tournament in Belem, Brazil saw them secure their quota for Paris. A 60-55 victory over Brazil was followed by an 85-52 win over Germany as the five-time Olympic medallists booked their spot before the third round of games.
The 2020 Olympic silver medalists won games over Spain and Canada at the Sopron Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Hungary to secure their quota at Paris 2024. In both wins, Japan scored 86 points; winning 86-75 over Spain on Thursday (8 Feb) and 86-82 over Canada. This will be Japan’s sixth trip to the Olympic Games in women’s basketball.
For the sixth time, Spain will play at the Olympics. The team obtained their quota by going 2-1 in the OQT. On Friday (9 Feb), they had a win over Canada. Spain needed to come back from a 22-point deficit to beat Hungary on Sunday (11 Feb) winning 73-72.
With a 1-2 record at the tournament in Sopron, Hungary, Canada will once again head to the Olympics. Canada won 67-55 over Hungary on Thursday (8 February.) This will be Canada’s eighth time in the Olympics for women’s basketball.
For the first time ever, Germany obtained a quota to take a 12-team roster to the Olympic Games after beating Brazil 73-71 at the qualifying tournament in Belem, Brazil. The Germans surpassed all expectations by finishing with a 2-1 record, after having also beat Serbia in the tournament opener on 8 February.
Serbia women’s basketball will appear in their third consecutive Olympic Games after a solid win over Brazil and 1-2 record in Belem. Falling to both Australia and Germany, the team will still go through to Paris where they will have an opportunity to collect a second Olympic medal and add to the bronze they took in 2016.
