FIBA Basketball

Who will step onto women's podium at Rio 2016?

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - The race to the podium in the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament gets underway on Saturday. The USA are gunning for a sixth straight gold medal and several

RIO DE JANEIRO (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - The race to the podium in the Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament gets underway on Saturday.

The USA are gunning for a sixth straight gold medal and several other teams have legitimate shots of getting into the top three.

FIBA.com experts Jeff Taylor, Paul Nilsen, Enzo Flojo, Julio Chitunda and Paulo Kennedy give their picks.

Jeff: The USA qualified by winning the 2014 FIBA Women's World Championship in Turkey. Because of their depth, experience and overall talent, it's unthinkable that this team will not claim a medal. For two years, Australia head coach Brendan Joyce has spoken so enthusiastically about this team that I’m thinking they’ve got a real shot to beat the USA to the title. Anyway, the USA and Opals will reach the podium. The race to the other medal is wide open with France, Spain, Serbia, Canada, Brazil, Turkey, Japan, Belarus and China able to win against each other on any given day. When Spain lost Sancho Lyttle to injury, I figured France had the inside track to the podium. On Wednesday, France's Celine Dumerc was ruled out after she sprained her ankle so now, I'm giving the nod to last year's EuroBasket Women champions Serbia for a top-three finish.

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Paul: USA, Australia and Serbia. I have to stick with my favorite national team in Serbia to come good again after I got laughed at for tipping them to win EuroBasket Women 2015. However, Canada, in particular, have reason to be pretty upset with me and probably Spain, too.

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Julio: The USA because they have the best players, a great basketball program and combine athleticism with a tremendous skill set. There won't be a Torrens-Lyttle connection in Rio for Spain, but that won't prevent the Spanish team from reaching the podium. Of course, Spain coach Lucas Mondelo will need to readjust with Astou Ndour at the center, but the good thing about this team is that they can shoot the ball well and defend. Since 1996, Australia have finished on the podium at the Olympics. I see no reason why that impressive streak will not continue. So, I choose the USA, Australia, and Spain.

Enzo: Like the men's tournament, the USA should be a lock for a podium finish, if not a gold medal romp. Maya Moore, Brittney Griner and Tina Charles are back to lead the team, but they should encounter tough resistance from the Aussies and the Spanish, who are also my picks to join the Americans in the top three. Serbia and France have strong chances, too, but I think Spain will beat them to the podium.

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Paulo: The last time the USA lost a game in a Women's OLympic Basketball Tournament, only one member of the current team - Tamika Catchings - was old enough to be in high school. So anyone tipping against their sixth straight gold better have a damn good reason, and I can't find one. Australia have taken all before them under the reign of Brendan Joyce - except the USA that is - dispatching their other five Turkey 2014 opponents by an average of almost 30 points. With almost the exact same high-speed roster heading to Rio it will take a quality effort for anyone to keep up with them, as shown by big wins over Canada and France in their recent lead-up games. Spain have only lost two games in the past two years, and while the absence of Sancho Lyttle no doubt brings them back to the pack, Laura Nicholls, Alba Torrens, Laia Palau and Anna Cruz headline a young but experienced team capable of winning the close ones.

FIBA.com expert's picks
Jeff: USA, Australia and Serbia
Paul: USA, Australia and Serbia
Julio: USA, Spain and Australia
Enzo: USA, Australia and Spain
Paulo: USA, Australia and Spain

Let us know your picks in the comments section!

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