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5 important things to know about women's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics

cory woodroof
Aug 6, 2021; Saitama, Japan; Team Serbia power forward Jelena Brooks (9) shoots the ball against Team United States forward A'Ja Wilson (9) in the women's basketball semifinal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 6, 2021; Saitama, Japan; Team Serbia power forward Jelena Brooks (9) shoots the ball against Team United States forward A'Ja Wilson (9) in the women's basketball semifinal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

Team USA will make a big push other countries could absolutely challenge

Aug 6, 2021; Saitama, Japan; Team United States forward A'Ja Wilson (9) handles the ball against Team Serbia power forward Jelena Brooks (9) in the women's basketball semifinal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 6, 2021; Saitama, Japan; Team United States forward A'Ja Wilson (9) handles the ball against Team Serbia power forward Jelena Brooks (9) in the women's basketball semifinal during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

1. Team USA should be the favorite for the gold 

Sep 24, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally (0) dribbles downcourt during the first half of game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Dallas Wings forward Satou Sabally (0) dribbles downcourt during the first half of game one of the 2023 WNBA Playoffs at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

2. Satou Sabally helps make Germany an intriguing contender 

its first-ever appearance Leonie Fiebich,

Jul 29, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Emma Meesseman (33) shoots against New York Liberty forward Natasha Howard (6) during the first half of the WNBA game at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 29, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky forward Emma Meesseman (33) shoots against New York Liberty forward Natasha Howard (6) during the first half of the WNBA game at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

3. Emma Meesseman leads the Belgium women's national team an Olympic sleeper 

Aug 8, 2021; Saitama, Japan; Japan point guard Rui Machida (13) shoots the ball against United States forward Breanna Stewart (10) in the women's basketball gold medal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2021; Saitama, Japan; Japan point guard Rui Machida (13) shoots the ball against United States forward Breanna Stewart (10) in the women's basketball gold medal match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Saitama Super Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

4. Rui Machida leads a formidable Japan squad 

a three-year absence

Sep 26, 2022; Sydney, NSW, AUS; Gabby Williams (FRA)? makes a three point shot in second quarter against Japan at Sydney SuperDome. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 26, 2022; Sydney, NSW, AUS; Gabby Williams (FRA)? makes a three point shot in second quarter against Japan at Sydney SuperDome. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

5. Gabby Williams is a standout for the France women's national team

missing the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023

This article originally appeared on For The Win: 5 important things to know about women's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics