By FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024: Top stars in action
With Paris 2024 berths on the line, all countries have done their utmost to recruit their best for the WOQTs.
Below are just a handful of the big names expected to suit up across the three days.
Diana Taurasi (USA)
Not content with the five Olympic gold medals already in her cabinet, Diana Taurasi will be a part of Team USA’s roster for Belgium
Having missed the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, the 41-year-old’s return to the international arena is highly anticipated notwithstanding the history she could write.
If Taurasi does make the national squad bound for Paris 2024, where the US is looking to win its seventh consecutive gold, she could become the most decorated team athlete of all time in the French capital.
Before that, she is in the squad facing Nigeria, Senegal and hosts Belgium. With Phoenix Mercury teammate Brittney Griner also back in the fold, Team USA will be expected to make a statement of intent to the rest of the world.
Lauren Jackson (AUS)
Another Olympic veteran taking part in the WOQTs is Australian superstar Lauren Jackson.
The power forward had established herself as one of the all-time greats before retiring due to a succession of injuries in 2016. She was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
But six years after quitting the sport, Jackson made a surprise comeback to play at the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup on home soil and helped secure her nation a bronze medal.
Now she is part of the Opals’ 12-woman roster seeking a quota spot, 24 years after making her Olympic debut at Sydney 2000. She will be 43 in Paris should the team make it there.
Satou Sabally (GER)
Germany are a team on the up and go to Brazil hoping to make their first women’s Olympic basketball tournament.
Much depends on Satou Sabally who plays for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA.
The 25-year-old was voted the league’s Most Improved Player last season and finished fifth in Most Valuable Player voting.
Having finished sixth at the 2023 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket without Sabally, the Germans are expecting big things with the forward back on board.
Marine Johannes (FRA)
The last time Marine Johannes played for France in a major tournament was at Tokyo 2020 with injury ruling her out of the 2022 World Cup. But the 29-year-old returns to the national side as a genuine star.
The shooting guard as a key part of the New York Liberty’s run to last season’s WNBA Finals, where they went down 3-1 to the Las Vegas Aces.
An ace ball handler with the ability to hit three-pointers, Les Bleues will be delighted to have Johannes back ahead as they prepare to welcome the world for the Olympic Games later this year.
