The most dominant women’s basketball team in the world hits the hardwood for the first time at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics when Team USA squares off with Japan on Monday.
The U.S. team is trying for an eighth straight Olympic gold and enters the matchup on a 55-game Olympic win streak dating back to the 1992 Summer Games in Barcelona. Simply put, Japan is very unlikely to threaten that streak against a loaded American squad led by WNBA stars A’ja Wilson, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart and Diana Taurasi. While veteran stars are hopefully to continue Team USA’s dominance, star rookie Caitlin Clark was not selected for the squad.
Bet MGM has the U.S. as a 20.5-point favorite over Japan.
The U.S. men’s basketball team took care of business with an Olympic-opening win over Serbia on Sunday. Can the women follow suit?
Time: 3 p.m. ET, Monday, July 29
Location: Pierre Mauroy Stadium | Lille, France
Channel: USA Network
Stream: Fubo, Peacock
As if eight straight gold medals isn’t impressive enough, the U.S. is also 72-3 all-time at the Olympic games. The team’s last Olympic loss was in 1992.
Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Napheesa Collier are starting off for the United States.
#USABWNT Starting Five @USANetwork @peacock#Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/9RWutbmGYF
USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 29, 2024
Today’s game is a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 final, where the United States defeated Japan 90-75 to take the gold medal. Though the U.S. took a relatively easy win, Japan put up a good fight, and are likely to be tough to tackle today as well. This Japanese team keeps the tempo up and plays well from beyond the arc.
#USABWNT’s quest for an eighth straight gold starts now.#Paris2024 x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/JLsC3mam8j
USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 29, 2024
The USA women’s basketball team is ready to go
On our way to Pierre Mauroy Stadium! #USABWNT vs Japan 9 pm CEST/3 pm ET @USANetwork @peacock #Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/nEE1sf6Cq5
USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 29, 2024
The United States, the defending Olympic gold medalists in women’s basketball, will hope to keep their golden streak alive this games. That all starts today, with the first group stage game against Japan.