VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France — The U.S. women’s basketball team is on a collision course with host country France as teams enter the knockout rounds of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Americans are the top team out of Group C after wins over Japan, Belgium and Germany. France, meanwhile, crushed Canada, beat Nigeria and lost to Australia. It won Group B based on point differential.
Pool play for the 2024 Olympics took place at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille, on France’s northern border. Now, qualifying teams move to Paris as the chase for medals continues at Bercy Arena, home for the last week-plus to Simone Biles and gymnastics.
The U.S. is the heavy favorite to win it all, and will take on Nigeria at 9:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. ET) Wednesday. If the U.S. wins, it will advance to play the winner of Australia-Serbia. The women’s semifinals are scheduled for Aug. 9, and the gold medal game will take place Aug. 11.
The U.S., led by WNBA two-time MVPs A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart, is seeking an unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal. Diana Taurasi is also trying to become the first Olympic basketball player to win six gold medals. The Americans have not lost a game at the Olympics since 1992.
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Here are the women’s quarterfinal games set for Wednesday:
Serbia vs. Australia, 11 a.m. local time (5 a.m. ET)
Spain vs. Belgium, 2:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. ET)
Germany vs. France, 6 p.m. local time (noon ET)
United States vs. Nigeria, 9:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. ET)
