Australia’s opposition at Olympic Qualifying Tournament: Brazil, Serbia and Germany
Germany
Germany may not yet have competed in the women’s Olympic basketball tournament but the German side coming to Brazil is one not to be underestimated.
After years in the wilderness, Germany is now a team on the rise marked by their impressive performance at EuroBasket last year.
Making their first appearance at the continental showpiece in 12 years, the Germans finished the tournament in sixth with a 4-3 record. That they managed to achieve without arguably the best talent, Satou Sabally who makes the journey to Brazil.
Currently playing for the Dallas Wings in the WNBA, she was named the league’s Most Improved Player last season and finished fifth in Most Valuable Player voting.
While Germany might lack experience in make-or-break games, the hunger to write history will be something driving this team and it is somthing the Opals won’t be taking lightly.
Brazil
Like Germany, hosts Brazil will have a point to prove when they take to the court in Belem.
Last making an appearance at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 the former basketball powerhouse is looking for a way back to the Olympic podium having clinched a silver in 1996 and bronze in 2000.
And there is good reason to believe Brazil can do what it takes to get to Paris.
The team, led by Kamilla Soares of the South Carolina Gamecocks, routed Team USA in the final of last year’s AmeriCup. While it wasn’t a full-strength USA team such as the one that will feature in the WOQT in Belgium there were some high-profile names including 2023 NCAA Champion Angel Reese, marking it as a significant victory. And with Soares set to rejoin Brazil in Belem after receiving the greenlight from Gamecocks’ coach Dawn Staley to miss NCAA commitments to play, the Brazilians could well cause more upsets.
Serbia
Two-time Olympic semi-finalists and 2021 EuroBasket champions Serbia pose arguably the strongest threat to Australia.
Having beaten Germany 78-62 on the final day of EuroBasket last year and with wins against Australia and Brazil at the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in 2022, Serbia has a strong record to lean on coming to Brazil where they will be hunting a third-consecutive Olympic appearance.
Yvonne Anderson, 33, will be a key figure in the European team’s line-up and will be one all teams will target when they come up against Serbia. If they hope to do that they will also have to side-step Serbia’s bigs including Dragana Stankovic and Tina Krajisnik who both have Olympic experience under their belt.
Just like their opponents, Serbia also will be looking to blend in some of their fresher faces and UCLA’s Angela Dugalic is no exception. Having made her debut for Serbia aged 19 at EuroBasket 2021, and competed at Tokyo 2020 in 2021, the now 22-year-old will be looking to become a staple in the Serbian side with a potentially big year ahead.