Seven nations have booked their place in the Olympic women’s basketball tournament with another five places left to be filled via the Qualifying Round.
The Olympic Qualifying Round will determine these final five places with Turkey, France, Czech Republic, Croatia, Argentina, Canada, Cuba, Korea, Japan, Mali, Senegal and New Zealand all competing from 25th June to 1st July 2012.
Teams involved in London:
Great Britain – Qualified as hosts, but it was nearly not the case as FIBA challenged the nation’s lack of presence in major basketball events and the legacy of the game in Britain after the Games were over.
But in March 2011, the FIBA board voted 17-3 in favour of Team GB’s involvement with attached conditions involving the sport’s governing structure by resolved by 30th June 2012.
How they will fare in London is anyone’s guess, but a medal placement is far off. Competing in the Olympics for your country will be the biggest honour that these players involved will have. They will not be looking to make-up the numbers.
USA – Won the gold medal at the World Championships for Women in 2010, and due to Great Britain’s involvement pending at the time, were the first nation to qualify for the 2012 Games.
With such stars as Sue Bird, Diana Tuarasi, and front-runner for WNBA Finals MVP Seimone Augustus expected to be on the roster next summer, it’s very easy to see why the States are favourites to reclaim their gold medal in London.
Russia – Won Eurobasket Women earlier this year. Though, they didn’t win the event convincingly, they showed that they can grind out results when it matters.
On their day, they can be fantastic to watch, with some terrific shooters. Along with Australia, the closest challengers to the United States.
Australia – Beat New Zealand in the Oceania in a three-game series, and won all three games by double-digits. The Opals are the favourites to face the USA in the gold medal game.
The reigning silver medallists play as a unit and look out for each other, their style isn’t fancy, but it gets the job done. The Aussies are hoping to have Lauren Jackson with them in London, as they look to go one better this year.
Brazil – Recently won the FIBA Americas Tournament for Women in Columbia by hammering Argentina 74-33 in the final.
Brazil is a match for anyone on their day, and will look to contend for a podium finish. Anything is possible and the Brazilians are more than capable of holding their own against Russia, USA and the Aussies.
China – The Chinese won the Asia Championship by beating a strong Korea side in the final.
Not expected to progress too far along in the tournament, but China have a great team chemistry and won’t be pushovers in London.
Angola – After several Afrobasket Women bronze medals, Angola finally won the event in 2011 to qualify for London 2012.
They defeated the favourites and previously unbeaten Senegal in the final and will go to London next summer with nothing to lose and the freedom to enjoy the tournament. If they do pick up a win, expect an Angolan carnival on the streets of the English capital.
