USA vs Japan Prediction & Betting Tips - Olympic Matches Women

Prediction published on 28/07/2024, 13:15  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 28/07/2024 at 17:13 in Basketball Predictions

The USA will begin their quest for an eighth successive Olympic gold in Women’s Basketball against Japan in Paris. This is a repeat of the gold medal match in Tokyo in 2021 and here we offer a preview and prediction of the encounter.

The USA won the last six times they met Japan. Four of their wins came at the Olympics stage with the last two being played in the last edition in Tokyo. Team USA won in the group stage in 2021 and then in the final to claim their seventh straight gold and ninth overall.

They are once again favourites to remain as the last team standing. In their 11 appearances, the USA have never failed to make the podium at the Summer Games. Cheryl Reeve’s players qualified for Paris after winning the 2022 World Cup. To prepare for this, they played five matches, losing only to a select WNBA roster.

Japan will be determined to put a stop to the USA’s dominance against them. They are favorites to challenge them for the gold medal again and will seek to draw first blood here to send a message. The Aka-tsuki Faibu are making their sixth Olympic appearance.

They made their debut at the 1976 Games in Canada and defeated the USA to claim the second of their two wins against them. The Asian nation qualified for Paris via the qualifying tournament held in Hungary earlier this year.

They topped a group that also included Canada, Spain and hosts Hungary. To prepare for the Olympics, Toru Onzuka’s team played four build-up matches. They defeated Australia twice but lost to Belgium and France.