The ladies’s 5×5 basketball competitors shall be in full swing when Group C play begins on Monday, July 29. Germany meets Belgium at 7:30 a.m. ET (Peacock), whereas Staff USA takes on Japan at 2:45 p.m. ET (USA Community).
Can Saballys, Germany gradual Meesseman, Belgium?
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Whereas the absence of Julie Allemand weakens a Belgium squad eager for its first girls’s basketball medal, the Cats enter their first recreation of the 2024 Olympics with a number of distinct benefits. Lille, the host metropolis for the group play video games, is situated close to the France-Belgium border, so Belgium might benefit from the help of followers who cross the border to see captain Emma Meesseman and firm. And though that is solely the second Olympic look for Belgium, it’s Germany’s Olympic debut, suggesting Belgium shall be higher ready to handle the feelings that include enjoying on the Olympic stage for the primary time.
Even with out Allemand, Belgium has on-court benefits as properly. The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP with the Washington Mystics, Meesseman is an skilled worldwide star, principally lately shining for back-to-back EuroLeague Ladies champion Fenerbahçe. She led the ladies’s basketball competitors on the 2020 Video games in scoring, averaging 27.3 factors per recreation throughout Belgium’s 4 contests. She stays the fulcrum of a cohesive, related Belgian facet that additionally will profit from the fearless taking pictures and playmaking of Julie Vanloo, the 31-year-old rookie level guard for the Mystics.
Germany, nevertheless, would possibly declare probably the most proficient participant on this matchup: Satou Sabally. But, the 2023 WNBA Most Improved Participant of the Dallas Wings, who additionally performed for Fenerbahçe with Meesseman throughout the 2021-22 and 2022-23 EuroLeague Ladies seasons, lately returned from a long-term shoulder harm and appeared removed from her prime kind in Germany’s exhibition loss to Staff USA final week. Equally, her sister Nyara, who performs for the New York Liberty, has missed time with harm all through the 2024 WNBA season. With the Sabally sisters unlikely to be at their greatest, it’s laborious to see Germany overcoming Belgium’s expertise.
Staff USA, Japan meet in gold medal rematch
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Staff USA begins their journey to an eighth-straight gold medal with a rematch of the gold medal recreation on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, assembly silver-medalist Japan. Three years in the past, the Individuals claimed a 15-point victory, 90-75, behind 30 factors from Brittney Griner. The Phoenix Mercury heart stays 6-foot-9, whereas Japan stays with no participant taller than 6-foot-1. Urgent the “BG” button once more could lead on Staff USA to a different comfy victory. Nonetheless, Griner didn’t see the court docket within the Individuals’ lone worldwide exhibition recreation, indicating that she might assume a decreased position on this crew, at the very least till Staff USA meets an opponent with extra important dimension.
After all, Staff USA has various different gamers who can overwhelm the undersized Japanese, highlighted by the two-time WNBA MVP tandem of A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Not solely are they unstoppable on the offensive finish, however the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty stars mix to anchor an American protection that, when totally alert, ought to stifle Japan. Within the Tokyo remaining, Wilson had 19 factors, seven boards and 5 blocks, with Stewart ending with 14 factors, 14 boards, 4 steals and three blocks.
The underdogs, nevertheless, will not be with out some doable benefits. Pierre Mauroy Stadium is a soccer stadium that has been transformed right into a basketball venue for the Olympics. Which means odd, unfamiliar sight strains that might bother Staff USA’s suite of sharp shooters. Japan will lean into the variance of the lengthy ball, firing away triples with out concern. If Staff USA is lacking and Japan is swishing, issues might get fascinating. That didn’t occur within the 2020 gold medal recreation, when Japan shot simply 8-for-31 (25. 8 p.c) from behind the arc.
Recreation info
Germany vs. Belgium
When: Monday, July 29 at 7:30 a.m. ET
The place: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France
Easy methods to watch: Peacock
United States vs. Japan
When: Monday, July 29 at 2:45 p.m. ET
The place: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France
Easy methods to watch: USA Community
