FIBA: Will Marine Johannès and host France advance out of Group B?

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The women’s 5×5 basketball competition begins Sunday, July 28 and concludes Sunday, August 11 with the gold medal game. The field features 12 national teams, divided into three groups of four teams.

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 tournament, with the first- and second-place teams advancing to the quarterfinals. The top two third-place teams also will advance to the quarters, where, after a draw, the competition becomes a single-elimination tournament, which will begin on Wednesday, August 7. Group games will be held at Pierre Malloy Stadium in Lille, France, while Accor Arena in Paris will host the quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal games.

Here’s more on the four teams contending to advance out of Group B:

Canada

BASKET-OLY-2024-QUALIFIER-HUN-CAN — Kayla Alexander takes a shot for Canada at the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Roster: Natalie Achonwa, Kayla Alexander, Laeticia Amihere, Bridget Carleton, Shay Colley, Aaliyah Edwards, Yvonne Ejim, Nirra Fields, Sami Hill, Cassandre Prosper, Syla Swords

Making their eighth Olympic appearance and seeking their first medal is Canada, led by head coach Victor Lapeña. Four current WNBA players—Los Angeles Sparks guard Kia Nurse, Minnesota Lynx wing Bridget Carleton, Washington Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards and Atlanta Dream forward Laeticia Amihere—will be at the forefront of the Canadians’ effort, along with former WNBA players Natalie Achonwa, a forward who played for the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx (2015-22), and Kayla Alexander, a center who spent time with the San Antonio Stars, Fever, Chicago Sky and Lynx (2013-20). A trio of collegians also are part of the Canadian team: Yvonne Ejim, the 2024 WCC Player of the Year who will return to Gonzaga for her fifth year; Cass Prosper, a rising junior forward at Notre Dame; and Syla Swords, who will be a freshman guard at Michigan.

Nigeria

FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024 — Promise Amukamara calls a play for Nigeria during the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Roster: Amy Okonkwo, Ezinne Kalu, Promise Amukamara, Elizabeth Balogun, Tomi Taiwo, Ifunanya Okoro, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpannah, Murjanatu Musa, Lauren Ebo, Blessing Ejiofor, Solape Amusan, Rita Igbokwe, Lucy Ibeh, Adebola Adeyeye, Christeen Iwuala

The D’Tigress and head coach Rena Wakama are headed to the country’s third Olympic Games (2004, 2020), looking to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time. Point guard Promise Amukamara, who played at Arizona State (2011-15) and was selected in the 2015 WNBA Draft, will captain Nigeria’s effort, along with several recent collegiate athletes in center Rita Ogbokwe (Pitt, Ole Miss; 2019-24), forward Elizabeth Balogun (Georgia Tech, Louisville, Duke; 2018-23), center Lauren Ebo (Penn State, Texas, Notre Dame; 2018-23), forward Solape Amusana (Illinois, Sacramento State; 2020-24), Adebola Adeyeye (Buffalo, Kentucky; 2018-23) and guard Tomi Taiwo (Iowa, TCU; 2018-23). Two current college athletes in rising junior forwards Lucy Ibeh (TCU) and Christeen Iwuala (UCLA) also are suiting up for the D’Tigress. Guard Ify Okoro will be counted on to provide leadership.