The most dominant team in modern sports history takes the stage once again at the 2024 Summer Olympics, which is underway in Paris.
On Monday, the U.S. women’s national basketball team puts its 32-year winning streak at the Olympics on the line and begins its bid for an eighth consecutive gold medal, which would break a tie with the American men’s basketball team that won gold seven straight times from 1936-68.
“That can’t be your everyday thought,” Team USA coach Cheryl Reeve warned her star-studded team. “Then you lose sight of what it takes to get there. That’s the biggest thing you have to block out.
“There’s a huge narrative we can’t escape with this being one of the greatest sports dynasties ever. It’s our first experience together with this group and this is our special journey, it’s about one gold medal.”
Related paris olympics 2024
Dating to 1976, the U.S. has won gold in nine of the 11 Olympics tournaments it has entered and has a spectacular 72-3 record, including a 55-game winning streak that began following a semifinal loss in the 1992 Barcelona Games when the Americans won a bronze medal.
Since then, Team USA, which won by an average of 16 points in the 2021 Tokyo Games, has steam rolled the international competition.
“When you sign up for this, we all know what the goal is,” said Storm guard Jewell Loyd, who is playing in her second straight Olympics with Team USA. “Everyone knows what’s at stake. It’s not like we talk about it every day or anything like that, but it gets brought up by (the media) so it’s impossible to ignore.
“When you play for Team USA, you’re expected to win a gold medal. … Most of us grew up watching this team and dreamed about playing in the Olympics. I know I did. We know the legacy of this team and you can’t run from that. You have to embrace it and we do. We just want to build on that and pass it on.”
Following a 117-109 loss in the WNBA All-Star Game last Saturday, there was a bit of concern this might be the year when the U.S. finally falters at the Olympics.
Similar to the 2021 WNBA All-Star Game, Team USA was no match in an exhibition against the league’s best, particularly Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale, who captured MVP honors once again following a scintillating 34-point performance.
“Is Arike playing for any of these teams that we’re going to play?” Reeve said, which drew laughs during a postgame interview.
Reeve added: “We have work to do and we know that. Sometimes it’s good, adversity, etc. I don’t think we needed a game like this to have our attention. We know how hard it is to do what we’re trying to do and we have work to do to get there.”
In their final tune up, the U.S. clobbered Germany 84-57 on Tuesday. Led by A’ja Wilson (19 points and 14 rebounds), Breanna Stewart (15 points) and Loyd (11 points), the Americans shot 42.3% from the field and held the Germans to 29% shooting.
“We came out how we were supposed to,” guard Sabrina Ionescu said. “Obviously, we’re still learning exactly where we need to be, but it is all within our control. It’s all things that we understand on the defensive end. Sometimes a loss like that really helps you understand that you can’t just show up and expect to win.”
The U.S. is in a Group C with Japan, Belgium and Germany. Group A features Serbia, Spain, China and Puerto Rico. Group B is comprised of Canada, France, Australia and Nigeria.
The Americans begin this year’s Olympics at noon Monday with a rematch against Japan who they beat 90-75 in the Tokyo Games final for the gold medal.
Team USA takes on Belgium on Aug. 1 and Germany on Aug. 4.
After round-robin play in Lille, France, within the three groups, the top two teams from each group and the two highest-ranked third-place teams advance to the Aug. 7 quarterfinals in Paris.
The semifinals are Aug. 9 and the gold and bronze medals games are Aug. 11.
“When you put that jersey on, you know you’re representing something bigger than you and quite frankly bigger than your (WNBA) team,” said Loyd who began playing with the U.S. senior national team in 2018 that won the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. “I remember my first year and being with Sue (Bird) and Stewie in Spain. Honestly, it’s the best feeling in the world.
“Winning a WNBA title is great and I’ve been fortunate to get a couple, but not going to lie, there’s nothing like winning a gold medal for your country.”
Big Storm presence in France
The Storm will be well represented at the Paris Olympics. Forward Ezi Magbegor and guard Sami Whitcomb will play for Australia. It’s the second Summer Games for Magbegor and first for Whitcomb.
Storm coach Noelle Quinn, who joined the Canada women’s national basketball team in 2022 as a lead assistant, will make her Olympic debut Monday.
Former Storm star Lauren Jackson, who won three Olympic silver medals and one bronze with Australia, is returning to play in her fifth Olympics at age 43. The three-time WNBA MVP retired in 2016 because of chronic knee injuries that derailed her Hall of Fame career. She returned for the 2022 World Cup and led the Opals to a bronze medal.
“The last time I was doing this I was the star, so I didn’t have to worry about being selected,” said Jackson, who last played in the Olympics in the 2012 London Games. “I’m not anymore. I’m the role player, had to work to make sure I got selected. I’m so proud of myself.”
Olympic women’s basketball
GROUP PHASE
Location: Pierre-Mauroy Stadium, Lille, France
Group A: China, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Spain
Group B: Australia, Canada, France and Nigeria
Group C: Belgium, Germany, Japan and USA
Sunday: Serbia vs. Puerto Rico, Spain vs. China
Monday: USA vs. Japan, Canada vs. France, Nigeria vs. Australia, Germany vs. Belgium
Wednesday: USA vs. Belgium, Australia vs. Canada, France vs. Nigeria, Japan vs. Germany
Thursday: USA vs. Belgium, Australia vs. Canada, France vs. Nigeria, Japan vs. Germany
Aug. 3: Serbia vs. Spain, China vs. Puerto Rico
Aug. 4: USA vs. Germany, Canada vs. Nigeria, Australia vs. France, Japan vs. Belgium
The first and second-place teams in each group and the two best third-place teams advance to the single-elimination quarterfinals. The pairings will be drawn Aug. 4.
MEDAL PHASE
Location: Bercy Arena, Paris
Aug. 7: Quarterfinals
Aug. 9: Semifinals
Aug. 11: Gold medal and bronze medal games
Team USA roster: Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Brittney Griner, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Alyssa Thomas, A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young.
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