It’s Tokyo 2.0 in USA women’s basketball opener against Japan
The women’s basketball tournament at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 ended with a thrilling gold-medal game between the U.S. and Japan, with the American team winning its seventh straight (and ninth overall) gold. This summer, at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, these two teams will face off in their very first matchup in France, a Group C game at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille, France.
"The Japanese team, we played them in the in the gold medal game three years ago. And I think it was the hardest game we've had in a long time. Just the way they play up tempo, shoot a lot of threes, a lot of movement, they're hard to guard and it's actually a really fun team to watch. It's going to be tough," U.S. guard Diana Taurasi said after the WNBA All-Star Game.
Since Tokyo, the two teams have fared quite differently. The U.S. won the 2022 FIBA World Cup, while Japan didn’t make it out of pool play. That win for the U.S. qualified the team for Paris, but they still played in the Olympic qualifying tournament and went 3-0. Japan went 2-1 in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Sopron, Hungary. Heading into Paris, the U.S. is ranked first by FIBA, while Japan is ninth.
What to expect with the Japan vs. U.S. women’s basketball game
One of Japan’s biggest strengths is that they know each other quite well, which allows for a style of play that is fast, fluid, and so much fun to watch. They had wins over Canada and Spain in Sopron, and can score big, especially in the transition game. Japan’s team is always a threat from the outside, and they showed it by hitting 15 threes against Spain in February.
However, they are going to have to deal with the big, physical team the U.S. has put together to go to Paris. Brittney Griner scored 30 points against Japan in the 2020 gold medal game, and she will be able to use her 6-foot-9 frame to stop Japan’s transition game. She will be joined by A’ja Wilson, who currently leads the WNBA in blocks per game, and Alyssa Thomas, a tough presence in the paint.
Players to watch
Mai Yamamoto, Japan
Mai Yamamoto made her Olympic debut in Tokyo with Japan’s 3x3 team, who took fifth. She moved over to the five-on-five team after the last Olympics, and she made a huge impact at the Olympic Qualifying tournament. She led all scorers in Sopron with 17 points per game, including 21 points in Japan’s win over Canada. Yamamoto is just 24 years old but, with her Olympic experience, has a chance to make a huge mark for her team.
A’ja Wilson, USA
If Wilson can translate the hot streak she has had in the WNBA recently to the Olympics, the rest of the field in France is in trouble. She is headed towards breaking the league’s record in points per game. While she has always been a formidable person to face in the paint, she is now finding a way to score from further out from the basket. Wilson’s focus is incredible, and she is able to stay locked in on making her teammates better in every game.
The U.S. and Japan will face off on Monday, 29 July.