Ionescu, Taurasi, Wilson Headline WNBA Players At 2024 Paris Olympics

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Written By Brett Gibbons | Last Updated
wnba olympics

As the 2024 Paris Olympics kick off this week, Team USA is a massive -1800 favorite to take gold in women’s Olympic basketball odds. The roster is stacked with talent, albeit without one notable name. Sabrina Ionescu, Diana Taurasi, and A’ja Wilson are among the most recognizable WNBA names selected for the Olympics. The Las Vegas Aces lead with four selections. The Phoenix Mercury landed three names, and the New York Liberty placed its dynamic duo on the roster.

Team USA kicks off its Group Play for Women’s five-on-five (5×5) basketball on Monday, July 29, at 3:00 p.m. ET. Three-on-three (3×3) play – a separate event with a separate roster – begins Tuesday, July 30, at 5:30 a.m. ET.

Odds To Win Gold: Women’s Olympic 5×5 Basketball

All other nations clock in longer than 25-1, notably Japan (+3000), China (+3500), and Canada (+3500).

WNBA Players Playing in Paris Olympics

A quick glance at Team USA’s roster is all it takes to understand why its odds equate to roughly a 95% expected win rate. A’ja Wilson (Aces) leads the WNBA in scoring this season with 27.2 points per game, while Kahleah Copper (Mercury) is second with 23.2.

This season, six of the top seven scorers and eight of the top 10 grace Team USA’s roster. Breanna Stewart (Liberty) joins Wilson as the last two WNBA MVPs. Diana Taurasi (Mercury) plays in her sixth Olympics since joining the WNBA in 2004.

Of course, the absence of Caitlin Clark spurred plenty of headlines. Clark currently leads the WNBA in assists (8.2) and stands 13th in scoring (17.1).

The US has won gold at the Women’s basketball event in each of the last seven Olympics, dating back to 1996. They also took gold in 1984 and 1988, making it gold in 10 of the last 11 Olympics. Sportsbooks expect this year to be 11 of the last 12 Olympic games and eight straight.

Team USA 5×5 Roster

  • Napheesa Collier (Lynx)
  • Kahleah Copper (Mercury)
  • Chelsea Gray (Aces)
  • Brittney Griner (Mercury)
  • Sabrina Ionescu (Liberty)
  • Jewell Loyd (Storm)
  • Kelsey Plum (Aces)
  • Breanna Stewart (Liberty)
  • Diana Taurasi (Mercury)
  • Alyssa Thomas (Sun)
  • A’ja Wilson (Aces)
  • Jackie Young (Aces)

WNBA Players Representing Other Nations In Olympics

Several other WNBA players will play in Paris for other nations:

  • Bec Allen (Mercury, Australia)
  • Laeticia Amihere (Dream, Canada)
  • Bridget Carleton (Lynx, Canada)
  • Aaliyah Edwards (Mystics, Canada)
  • Leonie Fiebich (Liberty, Germany)
  • Megan Gustafson (Aces, Spain)
  • Ezi Macbegor (Storm, Australia)
  • Jade Melbourne (Storm, Australia)
  • Kia Nurse (Sparks, Canada)
  • Nyara Sabally (Liberty, Germany)
  • Satou Sabally (Wings, Germany)
  • Alanna Smith (Lynx, Australia)
  • Steph Talbot (Sparks, Australia)
  • Julie Vanloo (Mystics, Belgium)
  • Kristy Wallace (Fever, Australia)
  • Sami Whitcomb (Storm, Australia)
  • Li Yueru (Sparks, China)

Winner Without Team USA

Sportsbooks often offer “Winner Without” props, and this market is no different, especially with such a heavy favorite in Team USA. Essentially here, you’re betting on the expected silver medalist, barring a massive upset.

All other nations are priced longer than 10-1. Notable countries include Canada (+1200) and Serbia (+1400).

WNBA Players On 3×3 Team USA Olympics Roster

Dearica Hamby (Sparks) and Rhyne Howard (Dream) headline WNBA selections for the 3×3 women’s event. Hamby currently stands eighth in the WNBA in scoring (19.2), shooting 52% from the floor. Howard (15.4 ppg) was the first overall pick out of Kentucky in the 2022 WNBA Draft – the program’s first top overall pick.

They are joined by Cierra Burdick and Hailey Van Lith (TCU). Burdick plays in the Valencia Basket Club, based in Spain, and played her college basketball at Tennessee. Van Lith returned to school but transferred from LSU to TCU.

3×3 basketball was introduced at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Plum and Young led Team USA to gold.

Women’s Olympic 3×3 Basketball Odds

Last Updated on 07.22.2024

All other nations price longer than 10-1 in this event. Team USA is the lone roster with WNBA participants (Hemby, Howard), although Canada won the FIBA Women’s 3×3 title in both 2022 and 2023.

Team USA Women’s Basketball Olympics TV Schedule

All Paris Olympics events can be streamed on Peacock. Women’s basketball events air on USA Network. All start times below are in ET.

  • July 29: Team USA vs. Japan, 3:00 p.m.
  • Aug. 1: Team USA vs. Belgium, 3:00 p.m.
  • Aug. 4: Team USA vs. Germany, 11:15 a.m.

Photo by AP News

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