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Now Team USA, Belgium’s Cats and Nigeria’s Detigres head to Paris.
Today was the final day of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualification Tournament. We will focus on the results of a series of matches to be played in Antwerp, Belgium.
Belgium beat Nigeria 78-61
Fenerbahce and former Washington Mystics forward Emma Messeman was the pod’s MVP with 14 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 27 minutes. Messeman averaged 17.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.0 steals in all competitions.
And I say it out loud. Even if Team USA beat the Cats, the best player in this pod was Messeman. She will be the best athlete at the Paris Olympics. Whether Belgium is a medal contender is another matter entirely. But then again, Messeman is the player to win these games.
Additionally, Antonia Delaire added 15 points to lead the Cats, and Mystics signee Julie Vanloo added 11 points.
For the Digres, Amy Okonkwo scored 16 points and earned a spot on the All-Star team. Nigeria shot 39 percent from the floor and 40 percent from three, while the Cats forced 29 turnovers.
USA defeats Senegal 101-39
There was never any doubt about the outcome of this match. Americans are far more talented than Sengals. Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard led Team USA with 25 points, and Minnesota Lynx forward Nafeesa Collier added 22 points. Both came off the bench and were also selected to the Olympic qualifying all-star team.
Washington Mystics guard Ariel Atkins played 16 minutes and scored two points. Yacine Diop led Senegal with 14 points and was named to the All-Star team.
Who created the Olympics?
There were even more pods in Sopron, Hungary. Belém, Brazil; and Xi’an, China. Here are all the teams that competed in the Olympics from each pod, starting with the pod that Team USA was a part of, Antwerp, Belgium.
Pod in Antwerp, Belgium
- United States (FIBA America)
- Belgium (FIBA Europe)
- Nigeria (FIBA Africa)
Pod in Sopron, Hungary
- Japan (FIBA Asia)
- Spain (FIBA Europe)
- Canada (FIBA Americas)
Pod in Belem, Brazil
- Australia (FIBA Asia)
- Serbia (FIBA Europe)
- Germany or Brazil (Game in progress – updated after game ends!)
xian china pod
- France (FIBA Europe)
- China (FIBA Asia)
- Puerto Rico (FIBA Americas)
Will you be covering the Olympic Games as well?
In the past, he has covered major international tournaments in exchange for a Mystics player to make the Olympic team (or in the case of men’s basketball, a Washington Wizards player). VanLue will likely be on the Mystics’ opening day roster. So, as long as Vanloo actually plays in DC this summer, the Belgian Cats should at least be covered.
As for Team USA, it all depends on whether Ariel Atkins remains with the Mystics as they have to sort out the WNBA’s free agency and trade season. I don’t think she gave her best performance in her qualifying, but in my opinion her experience on the world stage should be enough to give her a ticket to Paris be.
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