With regards to ladies’s 5×5 basketball on the worldwide scene, any group with Staff USA in it robotically turns into the “Group of Demise.” But, Group B is making a case for the title. Made up of France, Australia, Nigeria and Canada, this group has been stuffed with a rollercoaster of outcomes, and the outlook has modified a number of occasions.
Three of the 4 groups have WNBA expertise, whereas Nigeria has come as much as shock the world with how aggressive their group has been. As we await the ultimate day of group play, there’s nonetheless no approach of telling which groups will advance. It is going to possible come all the way down to level differential ultimately, however this group has already been stuffed with surprises.
France has sights on the rostrum at house Video games
After taking house bronze on the Tokyo Olympics, the French Nationwide Staff has been rising as a heavy hitter on the worldwide scene. Whereas they have been predicted to do effectively on this event, they’ve been completely dominating the group.
It is sensible. France not solely is a large hub for girls’s basketball within the EuroLeague, however they’ve been pumping out WNBA and NBA expertise in recent times. Unsure what’s within the French water to maintain producing these large and expert gamers, however it’s working for the French.
You even have the WNBA expertise that has been on the French group for a lot of years. Gabby Williams, particularly, has been completely on fireplace thus far in Paris. Williams, together with fellow French/WNBA standout Marine Johannès, opted to not play within the WNBA to concentrate on their nationwide group—and it’s paying off. Williams leads the French in factors per sport (13), effectivity (21.5) and assists per sport (7.5), and is second in rebounds per sport (4). She appears to be like highly effective on the market on the court docket, and the group as a complete simply appears to be like much more highly effective than they did in Tokyo.
They began their group play with an enormous win over Canada, 75-54, after which adopted that up with one other win over Nigeria with the very same rating, 75-54. Two large blowout wins, which not solely brings them to 2-0, however does wonders for his or her level differential. They’re the favourite to steer the group when all is alleged and performed, and can shut out their group stage towards Australia on Sunday.
Canada on the point of elimination
Whereas France has stormed forward in Group B, Canada has not been in a position to get going. After coming into the Olympics with excessive hopes, this group has simply been too highly effective for the Canadians, as Canada’s areas of weak point are the opposite groups’ areas of energy.
They began out with France, when a scarcity of defensive vitality and failure to maintain the basketball resulted in an enormous loss. They scored simply two factors within the second quarter—the lowest-scoring quarter in Olympic historical past—and couldn’t get well. Canada performed higher towards Australia, however misplaced by 5 factors, 70-65. They racked up turnovers once more, couldn’t make free throws and shot 31.1 % on 2-point photographs. The one participant who might get going offensively was Bridget Carleton, who scored 19 factors on 5-for-7 taking pictures from distance.
They did play higher protection and managed to get Australia in some foul bother, however couldn’t capitalize. Australia’s dynamic bigs, together with their sharp taking pictures guards, have been an excessive amount of for a Canadian group that lacks energy within the backcourt.
Canada now sits on the point of elimination. After France beat Nigeria, they held off being eradicated, however will now play Nigeria on Sunday. In the event that they lose, they’re out. In the event that they win, it is going to come all the way down to the results of Australia-France, in addition to level differential. Sadly, resulting from Canada’s slide towards France of their first sport, they sit in a tough spot when it comes to level differential. But, France might have one other large efficiency towards Australia, and if Canada can beat Nigeria by a large sufficient margin, they can come out of the group.
Australia’s hanging out within the center
Australia bought the higher of Canada, bringing them as much as 1-1 within the group. Nigeria shocked the world by beating them by a margin of 13 factors of their opening sport, so the Opals got here into their sport towards Canada in a must-win state of affairs.
They have been in a position to inch out the five-point victory over the Canadians, however their hopes to make the quarterfinals nonetheless cling within the steadiness. They’ve their hardest match ready for them on Sunday once they tackle the host French. And whereas a loss wouldn’t robotically knock them out, they’d then should depend on factors.
If Nigeria and Australia each win on Sunday, it is going to come all the way down to the wire on factors, as each presently sit at -8 in level differential. Australia could also be hoping Canada wins over Nigeria, since they’ve the purpose benefit over them as of proper now. Nonetheless, it’s going to come back all the way down to the mathematics on Sunday.
Nigeria stuns Group B
Nigeria was the group in Group B that nobody was actually listening to previous to the video games. It appeared like they’d fall to 3 highly effective groups in France, Australia and Canada.
But, Nigeria shook up the sphere once they beat Australia by 13 factors of their first sport. They then went on to offer the French a run for his or her cash as effectively, going into halftime of their second sport tied. In fact, the French ended up coming away with the 20-point victory, however Nigeria’s hopes are usually not extinguished but.
They nonetheless have an opportunity to proceed within the event in the event that they beat Canada on Sunday. Additionally they might advance as a 3rd place group in the event that they find yourself being one of many higher third place groups throughout all three teams. Regardless, Nigeria will likely be enjoying with advancing on the thoughts on Sunday. Their likelihood is fairly good because it stands, they usually might shock the ladies’s basketball world by making it by.
Sport data
Canada vs. Nigeria
When: Sunday, August 4 at 7:30 a.m. ET
The place: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France
Learn how to watch: Peacock
Australia vs. France
When: Sunday, August 4 at 3 p.m. ET
The place: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France
Learn how to watch: Peacock
