Basketball is part of the Olympic Games as an official sport since 1936, but the female branch was only integrated in 1976.
Coming to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, America has dominated both men and women. Team USA won 15 of the 19 possible gold medals among men and will go to Tokyo for their fourth consecutive title. Among women, they won eight of 11 competitions and dream of their seventh consecutive gold medal. Can they unseat him Spain, Australia, Serbia, Belgium, France or other teams?
More | Guide to men’s basketball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games: groups, rosters, figures, matches and more
To get into the weather and not miss details, let’s go with the following guide with all the information necessary to keep track of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games women’s basketball tournament, team by team.
Group A | B Group | Group C | Competition format
South Korea | Serbia | Canada | Spain
History and present
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marks South Korea’s seventh appearance in the tournament and the first since Beijing 2008. Their best result was a silver medal at Los Angeles 1984. The team finished fourteenth out of 16 teams at the 2018 World Cup and finished qualified Tokyo by being third in the 2020 Belgrade II Qualifier.
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Hyojin Ahn, Hyeyoon Bae, Leeseul Kang, Danbi Kim, Han Byul Kim, Jung Eun Kim, Minjeong Kim, Hyejin Park, Jihyun Park, Ji Su Park, Jihyun Shin, and Yebin Yoon. Ji-su Park is a member of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces.
Calendar
- 7/25 vs. Spain (3: 00h).
- 7/28 vs. Canada (3: 00h).
- 1/8 vs. Serbia (14:00).
History and present
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marks Serbia’s second appearance in the tournament since the dissolution of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. They were third in Rio 2016. The team did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup, they were 2021 Eurobasket champions and qualified to Tokyo by being second in the 2020 Belgrade Pre-Olympic I.
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Yvonne Anderson, Jelena Brooks, Sasa Cadjo, Aleksandra Crvendakic, Ana Dabovic, Angela Dugalic, Nevena Jovanovic, Tina Krajisnik, Maja Skoric, Dragana Stankovic and Sonja Vasic.
Calendar
- 7/26 vs. Canada (10:20).
- 7/29 vs. Spain (10:20).
- 1/8 vs. South Korea (14:00).
History and present
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marks Canada’s seventh appearance in the tournament. Their best result was fourth at Los Angeles 1984. The team finished seventh out of 16 teams at the 2018 World Cup and qualified for Tokyo by winning the 2020 Ostend Pre-Olympic.
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Natalie Achonwa (WNBA Minnesota Lynx), Kayla Alexander, Laeticia Amihere, Miranda Ayim, Bridget Carleton (WNBA Minnesota Lynx), Shay Colley, Aaliyah Edwards, Nirra Fields, Kim Gaucher, Kia Nurse (WNBA Phoenix Mercury) , Shaina Pellington and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe.
Calendar
- 7/26 vs. Serbia (10:20).
- 7/28 vs. South Korea (3:00).
- 7/31 vs. Spain (3:00).
History and present
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games mark Spain’s fifth appearance in the tournament and the fourth in the last five editions. Their best result was a silver medal at Rio 2016. The team finished third out of 16 teams in the 2018 World Cup, finished seventh in the 2021 Eurobasket and qualified for Tokyo by finishing second in the 2020 Belgrade II Pre-Olympic.
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Tamara Abalde, Raquel Carrera, Queralt Casas, Maite Cazorla, Maria Conde, Silvia Dominguez, Laura Gil, Astou Ndour (Chicago Sky of the WNBA), Laia Palau, Cristina Ouviña, Leonor Rodriguez and Alba Torrens.
Calendar
- 7/25 vs. South Korea (3:00).
- 7/29 vs. Serbia (10:20).
- 7/31 vs. Canada (3:00).
Nigeria | Japan | France | United States
History and present
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marks Nigeria’s second appearance in the tournament. His only presentation was in Athens 2004: 11th place with one win and five losses. The team finished eighth out of 16 teams at the 2018 World Cup and qualified for Tokyo by finishing third at the 2020 Belgrade Pre-Olympic I.
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Adora Elonu, Atonye Nyingifa, Promise Amukamara, Erica Ogwumike, Ezinne Kalu, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah, Ifunanya Ibekwe, Elizabeth Balogun, Oderah Chidom, Amy Okonkwo, Victoria Macaulay, and Aisha Balarabe Mohammed.
Calendar
- 7/27 vs. United States (6:40).
- 7/30 vs. France (10:20).
- 1/8 vs. Japan (3:00).
History and present
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marks Japan’s fifth appearance in the tournament. Their best result was fifth place at Montreal 1976. The team finished ninth out of 16 teams at the 2018 World Cup and qualified for Tokyo as the tournament organizer.
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Himawari Akaho, Saki Hayashi, Rui Machida, Evelyn Mawuli, Saori Miyazaki, Yuki Miyazawa, Naho Miyoshi, Nako Motohashi, Moeko Nagaoka, Monica Okoye, Maki Takada and Nanaka Todo.
Calendar
- 7/26 vs. France (3:00).
- 7/30 vs. United States (6:40).
- 1/8 vs. Nigeria (3:00).
History and present
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marks France’s fourth appearance in the tournament. Its best result was the silver medal in London 2012. The team finished fifth out of 16 teams in the 2018 World Cup, was runner-up in the last five Eurobasket and qualified for Tokyo by being the winner of the 2020 Bourges Olympic Qualifier.
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Alexia Chartereau, Helena Ciak, Alix Duchet, Marine Fauthoux, Sandrine Gruda, Marine Johannes, Sarah Michel, Endy Miyem, Iliana Rupert, Diandra Tchatchouang, Valeriane Vukusavljevic, and Gabby Williams.
Calendar
- 7/26 vs. Japan (3:00).
- 7/30 vs. Nigeria (10:20).
- 2/8 vs. United States (6:40).
History and present
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marks the United States’ eleventh appearance in the tournament, missing only Moscow 1980 because of the boycott. They were second in Montreal 1976, third in Barcelona 1992 and champions in the rest of the participations. The team was champion of the 2018 World Cup and qualified for Tokyo for it.
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Ariel Atkins (Washington Mystics), Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Tina Charles (Washington Mystics), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Skylar Diggins-Smith (Phoenix Mercury), Sylvia Fowles (Minnesota Lynx), Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces ), Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury), Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm), Breanna Stewart (Seattle Storm), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces).
Calendar
- 7/27 vs. Nigeria (6:40).
- 7/30 vs. Japan (6:40).
- 2/8 vs. France (6:40).
Australia | Puerto Rico | China | Belgium
History and present
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marks Australia’s ninth appearance in the tournament. Their best results were silver medals at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. The team finished second out of 16 teams at the 2018 World Cup and qualified for Tokyo by finishing second at the 2020 Bourges Olympic Qualification. In preparation for Tokyo 2020 beat the United States in a friendly 70-67.
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Bec Allen (New York Liberty), Katie Ebzery, Cayla George, Tess Lavey, Ezi Magbegor (Seattle Storm), Tess Magden, Sara Blicavs, Leilani Mitchell (Washington Mystics), Jenna O’Hea, Alanna Smith (Phoenix Mercury), Stephanie Talbot (Seattle Storm) and Marianna Tolo.
Calendar
- 7/26 vs. Belgium (10:20).
- 7/30 vs. China (14:00).
- 2/8 vs. Puerto Rico (14:00).
History and present
It will be the Olympic debut of Puerto Rico, which played its first World Cup in Spain in 2018, finishing last of the 16 teams and qualified for Tokyo by being third in the 2020 Bourges Pre-Olympic.
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Jacqueline Benitez, Allison Gibson, Michelle Gonzalez, Jazmon Gwathmey, Isalys Quinones, Sabrina Lozada, Tayra Melendez, Jennifer O’Neill, India Pagan, Pamela Rosado, Dayshalee Salaman and Jada Stinson
Calendar
- 7/27 vs. China (14:00).
- 7/29 vs. Belgium (3:00).
- 2/8 vs. Australia (3:00).
History and present
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics marks China’s ninth appearance in the tournament. Their best result was the silver medal in Barcelona 1992. The team finished sixth out of 16 teams in the 2018 World Cup and qualified for Tokyo as the winner of the 2020 Belgrade II Pre-Olympic Games.
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Xu Han, Sijing Huang, Meng Li, Yueru Li, Yuan Lu, Zhenqi Pan, Ting Shao, Mengran Sun, Siyu Wang, Tongtong Wu, Liwei Yang, and Ru Zhang.
Calendar
- 7/27 vs. Puerto Rico (14:00).
- 7/30 vs. Australia (14:00).
- 2/8 vs. Belgium (10:20).
History and present
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marks Belgium’s Olympic debut. The team finished fourth out of 16 teams in the 2018 World Cup, was third in the last Eurobasket and qualified for Tokyo by finishing second in the 2020 Bourges Olympic Qualification.
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Julie Allemand, Marjorie Carpreaux, Antonia Delaere, Kyara Linskens, Billie Massey, Emma Meesseman, Hanne Mestdagh, Kim Mestdagh, Heleen Nauwelaers, Jana Raman, Julie Vanloo, and Ann Wauters.
Calendar
- 7/27 vs. Australia (10:20).
- 7/29 vs. Puerto Rico (3:00).
- 2/8 vs. China (10:20).
Gone is the old and familiar format of two groups of six teams that saw the best four advance to the quarterfinals and begin the knockout stage. For this edition of Tokyo 2020, a modification will be implemented that will leave the tournament as follows. The objective? Increase interest in each early stage match and reduce load and wear on players and teams. For instance, the winner of the gold medal will have to play six games, two less than under the previous format.
- Initial phase: three groups of four teams that all will play against all. The two best of each group and the two best third parties will advance to the next instance.
- Final phase: direct elimination from the quarterfinals with the eight best of the first phase. The painting will be assembled through a draw to be held on August 2, after the initial phase. The first three of groups and the best second will be in one ciborium, while the other two seconds and the two third parties will be in the other. A detail: In the quarterfinals, two opponents who have been measured in the first phase will not be able to meet. Once the panel is assembled, it will be resolved in the usual way: quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches.
Final phase
- Quarter finals: all matches will be from the night of August 3 to the morning of August 4 (times to be defined after the draw on August 3).
- Semifinals: will be the 6th August
- Match for bronze and final: will be the August 7th at 2.00 MX and 4.00 AR and the August 7th at 21.30 MX and 23.30 AR, respectively.
The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.