Yes, Team USA is the best in the world, heavily-favored to win an eighth-straight gold. But, what national teams could credibly challenge the Americans for the spot on the top of the podium? Swish Appeal’s newest contributor Beckett Harrison power ranks the top five teams in the women’s 5×5 basketball competition at the 2024 Olympic Games:
1. United States
Strengths: Everything
Weaknesses: Minimal preparation
Active WNBA players: Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Brittney Griner, Sabrina Ionescu, Jewell Loyd, Kelsey Plum, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi, Alyssa Thomas, A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young
Since 1992, three things in life have been certain: death, taxes and Team USA winning gold in women’s basketball. Not only was the 1992 semifinal loss to the Unified Team (athletes representing recently-dissolved Soviet Union countries) the last time that the Americans failed to secure gold, it was the last time that they lost an Olympic game. Since then, it’s been nothing short of ascendancy. Seven-straight gold medals. Fifty-five-straight wins.
Not much needs…
