FIBA: Will China, Han Xu end first in Group A at 2024 Olympics?

The ladies’s 5×5 basketball competitors begins Sunday, July 28 and concludes Sunday, August 11 with the gold medal recreation. The sphere options 12 nationwide groups, divided into three teams of 4 groups.

Group A: Serbia, Spain, China, Puerto Rico

Group B: Canada, Nigeria, Australia, France

Group C: Germany, United States, Japan, Belgium

Group play consists of a single round-robin event, with the first- and second-place groups advancing to the quarterfinals. The highest two third-place groups additionally will advance to the quarters, the place, after a draw, the competitors turns into a single-elimination event, which is able to start on Wednesday, August 7. Group video games will likely be held at Pierre Malloy Stadium in Lille, France, whereas Accor Enviornment in Paris will host the quarterfinals, semifinals and medal video games.

Right here’s extra on the 4 groups contending to advance out of Group A:

Serbia

Photograph by JURE MAKOVEC/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Roster: Ivana Raca, Nevena Rosic, Saša Čado, Nevena Jovanović, Yvonne Anderson, Dragana Stanković, Jovana Nogić, Maša Janković, Aleksandra Katanic, Angela Dugalic, Tina Krajišnik-Jovanovic, Mina Djordjevic

Below head coach Marina Malijković, the White Eagles, fourth-place finishers on the 2020 Video games, will search the nationwide program’s second Olympic medal (bronze, 2016) behind the management of level guard Yvonne Anderson, the Arkansas native and College of Texas (2008-12) star who has represented Serbia since 2021. The Serbian nationwide staff additionally options rising UCLA senior ahead Angela Dugalic and Ivana Raca, who performed ahead at Wake Forest (2017-21) and was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks within the 2021 WNBA Draft.

Spain

Photograph by Ales Beno/Anadolu Company by way of Getty Photos

Roster: María Araújo, Queralt Casas, Maite Cazorla, María Conde, Laura Gil, Paula Ginzo, Megan Gustafson, Mariona Ortiz, Lenor Rodríguez, Leticia Romero, Alba Torrens, Andrea Vilaró

Head coach Miguel Méndez and the Spanish nationwide staff are aiming for a second Olympic medal (silver, 2016) on the 2024 Paris Video games after a sixth-place end on the 2020 Tokyo Video games. Ahead Alba Torrens, a 2009 WNBA Draft choice by the Connecticut Solar who has constructed an illustrious profession abroad, leads the Spanish squad, supported by level guard Maite Cazorla, who performed at Oregon (2015-2019) and for the Atlanta Dream (2019), and Las Vegas Aces’ ahead Megan Gustafson, who made her nationwide staff debut for Spain at February’s FIBA Ladies’s Olympic Qualifying Event in Sopron, Hungary.

China

Photograph by VCG/VCG by way of Getty Photos

Roster: Han Xu, Huang Sijing, Li Meng, Li Yuan, Li Yueru, Luo Xinyu, Solar Mengran, Wang Siyu, Wu Tongtong, Yang Liwei, Yang Shuyu, Zhang Ru

Following a fifth-place effort on the 2020 Olympics, head coach Zheng Wei and China hope to seize the nationwide staff’s first medal in additional than three a long time and third-overall Olympic triumph (silver, 1992; bronze, 1984). Han Xu stands tall because the star of the Chinese language squad. The 6-foot-9 heart who has performed three seasons with the New York Liberty (2019, 2022-23) is joined by wing Li Meng, an All-Rookie choice for the Washington Mystics final season, and heart Li Yueru, who, after seeing restricted alternative for the Chicago Sky in 2023, has loved prolonged alternative for the Los Angeles Sparks this season.

Puerto Rico

Photograph by Jason McCawley/Getty Photos

Roster: Arella Guirantes, Mya Hollingshed, Pamela Rosado, Tayra Meléndez, Trinity San Antonio, Brianna Jones, India Pagán, Isalys Quiñones, Sofía Roma, Jacqueline Benítez, Ahlana Smith, Mariah Pérez, Allison Gibson

Incomes an Olympic berth for the second-straight video games, Puerto Rico will try to determine itself as a participant on the world stage below head coach Jerry Batista. Former Rutgers star guard Arella Guirantes, who frolicked enjoying for the Los Angeles Sparks (2021) and Seattle Storm (2023) earlier than rising as an integral participant for Beretta Familia Schio, and ahead Mya Hollingshed, a Colorado standout (2017-22) and the No. 8 total choose by the Las Vegas Aces within the 2022 WNBA Draft, will carry the load for the Puerto Ricans, whereas guard Trinity San Antonio, a rising senior at Grand Canyon College, will look to discover a position on the squad.

Group A schedule

Sunday, July 28

Spain vs. China (7:30 a.m. ET)

Serbia vs. Puerto Rico (3 p.m. ET)

Wednesday, July 31

Puerto Rico vs. Spain (5 a.m. ET)

China vs. Serbia (7:30 a.m. ET)

Saturday, August 3

China vs. Puerto Rico (5 a.m. ET)

Serbia vs. Spain (7:30 a.m. ET)