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FIBA: Crew USA starts 3×3 basketball gold medal protection in opposition to Germany

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3×3 basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics tips off this Tuesday, July 30. Four games are on the schedule for the day, including a matchup between the defending gold medalist United States and Germany. Games between Australia and Canada, Spain and Azerbaijan and France and China are also on the docket.

The United States won the first-ever gold medal in 3×3 basketball at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and will be favored to medal again in 2024. It’s worth noting, though, that they’ve sent an all-new squad to Paris; it will be up to Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby, Hailey Van Lith and Cierra Burdick to continue the success that Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Allisha Gray and Stefanie Dolson started.

That’s not to say that Team USA lacks experience. Burdick and Van Lith, in particular, have been staples of the international 3×3 scene for years and are currently listed at No. 7 and No. 30, respectively, in FIBA’s 3×3 individual player rankings—a reflection of their proficiency in the 3×3 circuit. Last year, the pair won a gold medal in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup, so they certainly know how to win on the biggest of stages.

Hailey Van Lith and Cierra Burdick won gold with Team USA in the 2023 FIBA 3×3 World Cup.
Photo by Andrea Kareth /SEPA.Media /Getty Images

When it comes to 3×3 basketball, every bit of international experience counts. It’s not as simple as assembling the most talented roster possible and going for the gold; the style of play in the 3×3 game is even more dependent on team chemistry and player versatility, and given that the games are only 10 minutes long, the margin for error is small, regardless of who’s on the court.

Establishing that chemistry will be crucial early on for the United States as they take on Germany. German forward Sonja Greinacher is one of the tallest players in the competition at 6-foot-3, and she’s currently the No. 5 ranked player in the world according to FIBA. The United States will counter with Hamby, who was only recently named to the 3×3 team after Cameron Brink tore her ACL in WNBA play. Hamby getting off to a good start on Tuesday would bode well not only for Team USA’s first game of the competition, but for its chemistry in the near future.

Immediately after the United States plays Germany, Australia will take on Canada and the Plouffe sisters, who are perhaps the two biggest names in the competition. Later in the day, Tiffany Hayes and Azerbaijan will look to begin a Cinderella run against Spain, while No. 1 seed China takes on host country France.


Game information

Germany vs. United States

When: Tuesday, July 30 at 11:30 a.m. ET

Where: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France

How to watch: NBC

Australia vs. Canada

When: Tuesday, July 30 at 12:00 p.m. ET

Where: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France

How to watch: Peacock

Spain vs. Azerbaijan

When: Tuesday, July 30 at 3:00 p.m. ET

Where: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France

How to watch: Peacock

France vs. China

When: Tuesday, July 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET

Where: Place de la Concorde in Paris, France

How to watch: Peacock

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USWNT Tops Germany in 4-1 Goalfest

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The USWNT’s record remains perfect after two matches of Olympic group play, taking down Germany 4-1 on Sunday in a performance that put the rest of the field on notice.

Sophia Smith scored a brace while Mallory Swanson and substitute Lynn Williams added individual tallies to give the US their biggest win over Germany since 2010.

USWNT set to advance to Olympic knockouts

The win guarantees the USWNT a place in the quarterfinals with one group stage match still to play, a feat only mirrored by reigning world champions Spain after a wild second day of Olympic women’s soccer action.

A win or a draw against Australia on Wednesday would see the US finish atop Group B, though the team’s +6 goal differential could also land them in first even if they lose. Along with their goal differential, the USWNT leads the field in scoring with seven goals in their first two matches.

Lynn Williams scored her second career Olympic goal against Germany on Sunday. (Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Rising above European soccer expectations

The US entered Sunday as a slight underdog, facing a higher-rated team in the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2015. However, the US found the back of the net first on a well-worked attacking sequence that featured a goal by Smith, an assist by Trinity Rodman, and a savvy dummy move by Swanson.

Germany then equalized on a nicely orchestrated strike from outside the box by Giulia Gwinn, but the US piled on the goals to end the half. Swanson scored on a ball deflected by German keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, and Smith benefitted from a heavy deflection just before halftime to make it 3-1.

The US managed to keep the momentum flowing through the second half, an effort punctuated by Williams’s second career Olympic goal in the 89th minute.

Team Canada collapses on Vanessa Gilles after winning against France at the olympics
Vanessa Gilles scored the game-winner over France on Sunday to keep Canada’s Olympic hopes alive. (Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Elsewhere in the Olympic soccer tournament

Colombia leads on goal differential in Group A after defeating New Zealand 2-0, while embattled defending gold medalists Canada kept their Olympic dreams alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over host country France.

Japan bolstered their hopes of advancing from Group C with a comeback 2-1 win over Brazil, while Spain took hold of their destiny with a 1-0 win over Nigeria.

Australia notched a four-goal comeback to win a wild match against Zambia 6-5, one that saw Zambia striker Barbra Banda become the all-time leader in Olympic women’s soccer hat tricks with her third.

Who does the USWNT play next?

Next up, the US squares off against Australia on Wednesday, July 31st at 1 PM ET, with live coverage across NBC networks.



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The USWNT All the time Bounces Again

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The USWNT’s record remains perfect after two matches of Olympic group play, taking down Germany 4-1 on Sunday in a performance that put the rest of the field on notice.

Sophia Smith scored a brace while Mallory Swanson and substitute Lynn Williams added individual tallies to give the US their biggest win over Germany since 2010.

USWNT set to advance to Olympic knockouts

The win guarantees the USWNT a place in the quarterfinals with one group stage match still to play, a feat only mirrored by reigning world champions Spain after a wild second day of Olympic women’s soccer action.

A win or a draw against Australia on Wednesday would see the US finish atop Group B, though the team’s +6 goal differential could also land them in first even if they lose. Along with their goal differential, the USWNT leads the field in scoring with seven goals in their first two matches.

Lynn Williams scored her second career Olympic goal against Germany on Sunday. (Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Rising above European soccer expectations

The US entered Sunday as a slight underdog, facing a higher-rated team in the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2015. However, the US found the back of the net first on a well-worked attacking sequence that featured a goal by Smith, an assist by Trinity Rodman, and a savvy dummy move by Swanson.

Germany then equalized on a nicely orchestrated strike from outside the box by Giulia Gwinn, but the US piled on the goals to end the half. Swanson scored on a ball deflected by German keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, and Smith benefitted from a heavy deflection just before halftime to make it 3-1.

The US managed to keep the momentum flowing through the second half, an effort punctuated by Williams’s second career Olympic goal in the 89th minute.

Team Canada collapses on Vanessa Gilles after winning against France at the olympics
Vanessa Gilles scored the game-winner over France on Sunday to keep Canada’s Olympic hopes alive. (Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Elsewhere in the Olympic soccer tournament

Colombia leads on goal differential in Group A after defeating New Zealand 2-0, while embattled defending gold medalists Canada kept their Olympic dreams alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over host country France.

Japan bolstered their hopes of advancing from Group C with a comeback 2-1 win over Brazil, while Spain took hold of their destiny with a 1-0 win over Nigeria.

Australia notched a four-goal comeback to win a wild match against Zambia 6-5, one that saw Zambia striker Barbra Banda become the all-time leader in Olympic women’s soccer hat tricks with her third.

Who does the USWNT play next?

Next up, the US squares off against Australia on Wednesday, July 31st at 1 PM ET, with live coverage across NBC networks.



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Simone Biles dazzles in Olympic go back, fights via damage all the way through qualifiers

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The GIST: Thanks to dominant performances from seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles (even through injury) and reigning all-around champ Sunisa Lee, Team USA women’s gymnastics leads all countries after yesterday’s team qualification. Nothing holding them back.

Biles pushes through calf twinge, competes with joy: The GOAT gave fans a scare when she tweaked her calf while warming up for the floor but, after briefly leaving the competition for medical attention, returned with a taped-up leg and confidently completed her all-around program.

  • Though Biles appeared to limp slightly between events, she still shined, finishing with the top all-around score. Awe-inspiring.
  • Something we didn’t see yesterday? The highly anticipated new unique skill from Biles on the uneven bars. If she completes it, it’ll become the sixth skill named after her.

Lee triumphs in Olympic return: Lee finished third among all all-around competitors yesterday behind Biles and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, dazzling on the uneven bars (her signature event) and the beam — a glorious performance, especially considering the multiple kidney issues that nearly kept Lee from competing in Paris.

  • But before Biles and Lee go head-to-head in the all-around final on August 1st, they’ll combine forces once again in tomorrow’s 12:15 p.m. ET team final. Bring it on.



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Lacrosse Venues: Large or Small?

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When dealing with lacrosse games at a neutral site with high stakes, be it a prep school state championship, a college game, or a PLL match, the ability to choose the venue can set fans right in terms of the experience. The discussion here is on whether small or large venues would be better suited to host such matches. In these cases, the athlete’s experience is paramount, for the memories created in those big-game situations can last a lifetime. In this article, we will compare the pros and cons of small and large lacrosse stadiums so that you can understand how each setting enhances or detracts from athletes’ experiences during these memorable events.

Big Venue Pros

Probably the greatest advantage of big-venue lacrosse games with high stakes is that it provides a grand experience. The playing of games within a stadium, irrespective of the number of fans, brings an air of grandeur and scale to the event. This bigness can elevate the athletes’ experience of the game to feel like a big deal.

The facilities are generally very good at larger venues. Most of these are high-level Division 1 schools or professional arenas that would have excellent locker rooms, training rooms, and so on. In other words, the infrastructure of the venues is such that it keeps elite athletes in a great environment to help them get prepared and then recover from their games.

When these venues are full, it’s something else. Events like NCAA Championship Weekend at full 30,000-fan capacity give a feeling that is so difficult to replicate on smaller occasions. For the players, having that many in the audience cheering would be quite intoxicating; their intense roar could elevate or intensify energy and excitement in the game.

Also, the larger the venue, the more likely it is to be located in larger cities or areas with a number of local attractions. This makes the experience of attending the game much more rewarding for the fans but also gives the athletes a lot more to do on their off time. These surrounding attractions can make what would have otherwise been just a simple game into an overall great trip.

Big Venue Cons

However, the large venues also have their own negatives. Among the more significant of these concerns can be said to be affecting the atmosphere with smaller audiences. With huge stadiums that are not filled, one is left with a lifeless and empty feel which takes away from the energy of the game. This was quite apparent in earlier events such as the NCAA Men’s Quarterfinals at Ohio Stadium, where the small crowd really made this venue lack what it could have had compared to a more local place like Delaware.

Another disadvantage: big venues rarely feel like they’re meant for lacrosse games. Many of these spaces are multipurpose, designed for hosting a variety of sports and other events, which makes for less truly lacrosse experiences. The field setup and sightlines may not be great, and it will lack all the specific touches that give a venue true home-field feel for lacrosse.

Scheduling can also be an issue when one has to consider larger venues. Given the demand and sometimes popularity, even these facilities have jammed schedules accommodating many different events; these could cause logistic dilemmas, limited availability that may influence the preparation and time conceived for lacrosse games.

Small Venue Pros

One of the larger advantages to having a high-stake lacrosse game at a smaller venue would be that these kinds of venues seem to be purpose-built for the sport. The majority of smaller universities that traditionally support college lacrosse programs have facilities dedicated to the sport. Staff in such facilities understand the particulars involved in lacrosse and thus will ensure no problems concerning running the event or meeting specific needs for both the game and players.

Another huge plus would be the atmosphere. For athletes, nothing can beat having a full house when competing, and it was easier to attain that in smaller venues. Lacrosse supporters are more likely to fill up a smaller venue, much more so for an important match, where players can really feel their energy and feel the fans’ support.

The game, experienced in an intimate setting, can be more stimulating, notching up its intensity to an unforgettable experience for the athletes. Also, while big venues are really nice and provide a “Wow” factor, they at times can be a little bit intimidating to younger athletes. Trying to play in larger general-admission seating areas than usual, particularly inside a championship game venue, raises the pressure and nerves already present in such high-stakes situations. This intimidation factor exists minimally in a smaller venue.

Small Venue Cons

Small venues, on the other hand, are hit or miss. Though some of the smaller spots really seem tailor-made for the sport, from easily accessible locker rooms to well-placed stands and high-quality facilities such as scoreboards, some others indeed leave much to be desired. Take one great facility ruined because something so easily alterable—like a running track around the field—is going to make it lose its vibe. Unlike larger venues, where there is usually some sort of assurance of quality, smaller ones vary in their quality.

Another disadvantage is a lack of grandeur. A major game, as it should be, in a third-party venue may not be as overwhelming. At times, small facilities can make the event feel void of magic. Games held within these respective venues seem, rather than such a momentous event, very much like another day on the field. Such lack of display could taint the experience for athletes who may not walk away with lasting impressions to remember, as could a larger and more whimsical venue.

In summary, although smaller venues provide a more intimate and less possibly intimidating environment for high-stakes lacrosse games, quality may vary from one place to another, and such grandeur that actually makes an event special could be lost. Balancing those pros and cons is key in selecting the right venue for a championship-level game.

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Crew USA Is going for Gold in Olympic Rugby Sevens Event

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Team USA’s rugby squad will begin the hunt for their first-ever Olympic medal when the Paris Games’ rugby sevens tournament takes the pitch on Sunday.

This marks just the third time the Olympics have featured rugby sevens after its debut at the 2016 Rio Games.

Team USA takes aim at their first Olympic medal on Sunday. (Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC)

How the Olympic rugby sevens tournament works

Unlike traditional rugby’s 15-player teams and 40-minute halves, rugby sevens consists of squads of seven battling it out through two seven-minute halves. Reflecting the sport’s sped-up nature, the Olympic rugby sevens tournament is played over just three consecutive days.

Twelve teams divided into three groups of four will compete in round-robin pool play to earn points — three for a win, two for a draw, and one for a loss — from Sunday, July 28th through the first half of Monday, July 29th.

The two teams with the most points in each group plus the next two overall best teams then advance to Monday afternoon’s quarterfinals.

On Tuesday, July 30th, teams knocked out of the playoffs will face off in “placing” matches to achieve an official Olympic rating. These games are played concurrently with the semifinals before the bronze and gold medal contests close out the tournament.

USA rugby's Ilona Maher breaks a tackle in a 2023 game.
Ilona Maher and her US teammates are vying for their first-ever Olympic medal. (MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP via Getty Images)

Veterans lead Team USA’s Olympic charge

The US is looking to improve on their fifth- and sixth-place finishes at Rio and Tokyo, respectively, and they’re banking on having the experience to do it.

Seven of Team USA’s 12 players are Olympic veterans, with two — 33-year-olds Lauren Doyle and Alev Kelter — having competed in both of the sport’s previous Olympic showcases. Doyle and fellow Tokyo vet Naya Tapper co-captain the squad, which also features US rugby standout and TikTok star Ilona Maher.

However, to ascend their first-ever Olympic podium, the US will have to contend with the sport’s top teams — including Rio gold medalists Australia and Tokyo champs New Zealand. Plus, an especially hungry Team GB will be particularly tough to beat, as the current world No. 1 lookscto avenge their fourth-place finishes in 2016 and 2021.

How to watch the US rugby sevens squad

The US opens pool play against Japan at 10:30 AM ET before facing No. 40 Brazil at 2 PM ET on Sunday, July 28th, with live coverage on NBC platforms.



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2024 Olympics: Staff USA starts adventure to eighth-straight gold

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The women’s 5×5 basketball competition will be in full swing when Group C play begins on Monday, July 29. Germany meets Belgium at 7:30 a.m. ET (Peacock), while Team USA takes on Japan at 2:45 p.m. ET (USA Network).

Can Saballys, Germany slow Meesseman, Belgium?

Satou and Nyara Sabally warm up before Germany’s exhibition game against Team USA.
Photo by Ryan Stetz/NBAE via Getty Images

While the absence of Julie Allemand weakens a Belgium squad hopeful for its first women’s basketball medal, the Cats enter their first game of the 2024 Olympics with several distinct advantages. Lille, the host city for the group play games, is located near the France-Belgium border, so Belgium may enjoy the support of fans who cross the border to see captain Emma Meesseman and company. And although this is only the second Olympic appearance for Belgium, it is Germany’s Olympic debut, suggesting Belgium will be better prepared to manage the emotions that come with playing on the Olympic stage for the first time.

Even without Allemand, Belgium has on-court advantages as well. The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP with the Washington Mystics, Meesseman is an experienced international star, mostly recently shining for back-to-back EuroLeague Women champion Fenerbahçe. She led the women’s basketball competition at the 2020 Games in scoring, averaging 27.3 points per game across Belgium’s four contests. She remains the fulcrum of a cohesive, connected Belgian side that also will benefit from the fearless shooting and playmaking of Julie Vanloo, the 31-year-old rookie point guard for the Mystics.

Germany, however, might claim the most talented player in this matchup: Satou Sabally. Yet, the 2023 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Dallas Wings, who also played for Fenerbahçe with Meesseman during the 2021-22 and 2022-23 EuroLeague Women seasons, recently returned from a long-term shoulder injury and looked far from her top form in Germany’s exhibition loss to Team USA last week. Similarly, her sister Nyara, who plays for the New York Liberty, has missed time with injury throughout the 2024 WNBA season. With the Sabally sisters unlikely to be at their best, it’s hard to see Germany overcoming Belgium’s experience.

Team USA, Japan meet in gold medal rematch

United States v Japan Women’s Basketball - Olympics: Day 16

Chesea Gray is guarded by Rui Machida during the gold medal game at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Team USA begins their journey to an eighth-straight gold medal with a rematch of the gold medal game at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, meeting silver-medalist Japan. Three years ago, the Americans claimed a 15-point victory, 90-75, behind 30 points from Brittney Griner. The Phoenix Mercury center remains 6-foot-9, while Japan remains without a player taller than 6-foot-1. Pressing the “BG” button again could lead Team USA to another comfortable victory. However, Griner did not see the court in the Americans’ lone international exhibition game, indicating that she may assume a reduced role on this team, at least until Team USA meets an opponent with more significant size.

Of course, Team USA has a number of other players who can overwhelm the undersized Japanese, highlighted by the two-time WNBA MVP tandem of A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Not only are they unstoppable on the offensive end, but the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty stars combine to anchor an American defense that, when fully alert, should stifle Japan. In the Tokyo final, Wilson had 19 points, seven boards and five blocks, with Stewart finishing with 14 points, 14 boards, four steals and three blocks.

The underdogs, however, are not without some possible advantages. Pierre Mauroy Stadium is a soccer stadium that has been converted into a basketball venue for the Olympics. That means odd, unfamiliar sight lines that could trouble Team USA’s suite of sharp shooters. Japan will lean into the variance of the long ball, firing away triples without fear. If Team USA is missing and Japan is swishing, things could get interesting. That did not happen in the 2020 gold medal game, when Japan shot just 8-for-31 (25. 8 percent) from behind the arc.


Game information

Germany vs. Belgium

When: Monday, July 29 at 7:30 a.m. ET

Where: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France

How to watch: Peacock

United States vs. Japan

When: Monday, July 29 at 2:45 p.m. ET

Where: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France

How to watch: USA Network

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The Have an effect on of the Shot Clock on World Lacrosse

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Nick Pietras

Nick Pietras has been coaching lacrosse in the city of Detroit since 2019. He currently serves as the assistant creative director creating content and helping manage the image of Detroit United. He is currently attending Lourdes University pursuing a double major in marketing and business administration. Over the course of his senior year, Nick would tear both of his ACL’s leaving him to miss his senior season. He would play for the Lourdes University Gray Wolves for one year before his lingering knee injuries would abruptly end his college career. This is where his coaching career officially began as he became the offensive coordinator for his alma mater, Cousino High School. He would be one of the main influencers in the creation of Warren Consolidated Schools joint high school program and would oversee fundraising, marketing, and design endeavors. Six months later, Nick would be brought to Detroit to join the Cass Tech High School men’s lacrosse coaching staff as the defensive coordinator.

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Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejčiková win the 2024 Wimbledon singles titles

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The GIST: The final Grand Slam tournament before the Olympics did not disappoint, with history made on the grass courts at the All England Club. Truly serving.

No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz defends Wimbledon title: Playing in front of Her Royal Highness, the Spaniard made quick work of seven-time Wimbledon champion No. 2 Novak Djokovic yesterday, posting a straight set victory — complete dominance compared to last year’s five-set championship battle. Yes, Djokovic wasn’t in top form, but Alcaraz was tough to beat from the opening serve.

  • The 21-year-old is now just the sixth man in the Open Era to win back-to-back French Open and Wimbledon titles, joining the Big Three — Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. Safe to say, the next generation has arrived.

No. 31 Barbora Krejčiková secures second career singles Grand Slam victory: Three years after winning her maiden Grand Slam at the French Open, the Czech star conquered the grass with an electric three-set Saturday win over back-to-back Grand Slam finalist Italian No. 7 Jasmine Paolini. Raise your glass to that.



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2024 Olympics: Canada girls’s basketball starts medal quest

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The women’s 5×5 basketball competition has begun, with Group A action kicking things off on Sunday, July 28. All four Group B teams will begin play on Monday, July 29. The first game will be Nigeria vs. Australia at 5:00 a.m. ET, followed by Canada vs. France at 11:15 a.m. ET. Both games will be streamable on Peacock and nbcolympics.com.

Australia looks to establish dominance

In the first Group B game, Australia will be looking to start the Olympic games with an easy win. They will be led by Tess Madgen and players with a rich WNBA background, such as Ezi Magbegor of the Seattle Storm, Steph Talbot of the Los Angeles Sparks and Alanna Smith of the Minnesota Lynx. If Australia is the top team they appear to be on paper, they should cruise to a win versus Nigeria.

Nigeria has an uphill battle in this contest, as well as in this group. They not only suffered some difficult loses in exhibition matches prior to the Olympics, but also are dealing with a lack of support from the Nigeria Olympic Committee and Nigeria Basketball Federation. They will be looking to make a statement with their play starting on Monday.

Canadian hardware on the way?

Canada is stacked with top-tier talent. They have plenty of players that can produce like Kayla Alexander and Aaliyah Edwards. The United States’ neighbors from the north have never medaled in women’s basketball, but this just might be the moment where that changes.

To get started on the right foot they’ll have to defeat and equally formidable team in France. France’s strong homecourt advantage means they will have a say in who medals in Paris.

This game will likely be a tightly-contested one with both teams appearing evenly matched. With only a handful of group games, every matchup matters so whoever wins will earn much-needed points against a tough opponent.


Game information

Nigeria vs. Australia

When: Monday, July 29 at 5:00 a.m. ET

Where: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France

How to watch: Peacock, nbcolympics.com

Nigeria injury report: none

Australia injury report: none

Canada vs. France

When: Monday, July 29 at 11:15 a.m. ET.

Where: Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France

How to watch: Peacock, nbcolympics.com

Canada injury report: none

France injury report: none

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