This is the USA. What else do you need to know?

Those of us of a certain age remember that beating the Soviet Union was a big deal back then. But the U.S. won gold in 1988 despite the boycott of the 1984 Games. After winning bronze in 1992, losing in the semifinals to the Soviet remnants of the “United Team,” and then winning bronze at the 1994 World Championships after a 110-107 loss to Brazil, the U.S. women have won seven consecutive Olympic gold medals and six of the last seven World Championships. Their only loss at an Olympic Games or World Championship came in the semifinals of the 2006 World Championships to Russia.

Four players from the mighty Las Vegas Aces are on the team – A’ja WilsonPlaymaker Chelsea Grey, Jackie Young And Kelsey Plum, . Wilson was the first pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft. Gray was held back by injuries at Duke (unnecessary mention of my alma mater, the only one I will make), but she developed into a WNBA star, she and Wilson were both on the gold medal team in Tokyo. Young and Plum won gold in Tokyo on the 3×3 team.

Before Caitlin Clark captured the public’s imagination was the young phenomenon in women’s basketball Sabrina Ionescuwhose dazzling career at the University of Oregon made her the first choice in 2020.

Wilson is the team’s top scorer in France with 18.2 points per game, closely followed by Breanna Stewart at 18.0. Young has added 11.0. Wilson also leads the team in rebounds (9.6) and blocks (2.4), while Gray has 5.4 assists per game despite playing less than 15 minutes per game.

The captain was a controversial new addition to the team – Diana Taurasi, one of the game’s all-time greats, but at 42, not a particularly good player.

In Paris, the U.S. women won comfortably but not overwhelmingly. Belgium, which messed up the time control at the end and lost the bronze medal match to Australia today, was tied with the U.S. after the first quarter but lost 87-74. Nigeria stayed reasonably close in the first half, fell far behind, but then caught up and narrowed the gap to 14.

France, which was never a top team in the 20th century or the 2000s, has now reached the semi-finals of the Olympic Games for the fourth time in a row, winning silver in 2012 and bronze in Tokyo.

None of the team’s players are in the WNBA, but four of the team’s core players were in the US league in the past.

To maximize their earning potential, women’s basketball players often move between the WNBA and European or Asian leagues, so the decision to skip a WNBA season in an Olympic year is not uncommon.

Gabby Williamsoriginally from Nevada, played for UConn and was selected fourth overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft. She has spent five years in the WNBA and leads the French team in Paris in points per game (14.8) and minutes (26:03). Marine Johanneswho grew up in France and came across the Atlantic to spend some time with the New York Liberty, is the only other player with double-digit points, with an average of 12.2. Johannes was the MVP of the 2023 EuroCup.

As with the French men’s team, there is no shortage of centers on the French women’s team.

Marie-Marie Badiane (1.90 m, no WNBA experience) is the best rebounder with 5.6. Ilana Rupert (6-4) was the 12th pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft and won a championship with Las Vegas. The tallest (6-6) and youngest player was born in Cameroon Dominique Malongawho has played very little at age 18, but may be a player to keep an eye on in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

Badiane and Valeriane Ayayiwho once played for San Antonio, are on average about one and a half blocks per game.

The captain is 35 years old Sarah Michel.

Will we see a continuation of some of the most impressive winning streaks of the Olympics at the end of the Games?

Or will we experience a titanic surprise?

And are we done complaining about Caitlin Clark not being on the US national team roster?

Let’s take a look at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games…