Japan turn to battle-tested 12 for Paris 2024 women's basketball
Japan certainly believes experience counts.
The Japan Basketball Association named their 12 for the Paris 2024 women’s tournament on Tuesday (25 June), with every player having at least one Olympic Games under their belt.
Takada Maki - the lone centre on the team - Machida Rui and Miyazawa Yuki will lead the way for the silver medallists from Tokyo 2020 in 2021, set to make their third successive Olympic appearance.
“To play to our strength to the fullest, we selected these 12 having imagined every possible scenario,” head coach Onzuka Toru said in a statement. “It really is a shame we can’t select everyone.
“In the one month we have left, we need to hone our combination and teamwork and shore up any weakness. We will be better by the time the Olympics start.
“We are out to win a gold medal and going to give it everything we have.”
Japan will launch their Paris campaign against USA on 29 July in a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 women’s final, followed by Germany on 1 August and Belgium three days later in a very tough Group C.
Japan’s send-off games will be on 4 and 6 July versus New Zealand at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
Also among the Japanese dozen are the Mawuli sisters Evelyn and Stephanie, the latter who represented her country in 3x3 at the Games three years ago.
Lead guard Yoshida Asami is the oldest player on the squad at 36, returning to the fold after starting at Rio 2016 and then missing Tokyo 2020.
“We have some tough teams in our group in USA, Germany and Belgium,” captain Hayashi Saki said. “But we are prepared to make the climb and hope to come through for our passionate fans.
“We’re coming home as the No. 1 team in the world.”