A quest for an 8th consecutive gold versus pulling off an Olympic miracle. That’s the upcoming storyline as the Bercy Arena awaits an enticing quarterfinals. Seemingly, the 9x Olympic champions Team USA will square off against first-time quarterfinalists Nigeria. With the rubber hitting the road, the margin for error is no more.

Will it be a 59th straight win or the biggest upset in women’s basketball Olympic history?

Team USA or D’Tigress? Which unit holds the upper hand?

A’ja Wilson and Co. are rolling in hot with a 3-0 record in the 2024 edition. Clearly, their unbeaten record at the event for almost 3 decades makes them a clear favorite entering the fixture. On top of that, Team USA carries an astonishing scoring average of 92 points per contest while shooting 49.5% from the field. A whole lot of credit for that is to Wilson along with her WNBA rival and fellow gold medalist Olympian Breanna Stewart, who are spearheading the team’s offensive duties. As of now, both of them are scoring an average of 20.3 points per contest.

Defensively, there might be some lapses as a close game against Belgium was quickly followed by a 3-point deficit in the first quarter against the Germans. Nonetheless, they were able to pull through with a 19-point cushion. In addition to this, out of their 58 straight wins, 56 have been with a double-digit margin. And, there is a 19-point differential for the time being at the Paris Olympics.

“You can do anything that you set your mind to. It doesn’t matter where you’re born or where you come from. You can do it”. This is the mentality of Nigerian guard Amy Okonkwo and the entire D’Tigress unit before the game. And perhaps this has been the driving force for them this time around.

The Nigerian team has already created its share of history by becoming the first African team, men’s or women’s, to secure a birth in the last 8. Their campaign is carried out by Ezinne Kalu, who is scoring at an average of 19.3 points per game. However, it’s the team’s ruthless defense that has played an instrumental part in their successful campaign. Along with conceding 69 points per contest, they are currently leading the tournament in terms of steals (13.3 per game).

Who’ll be making the Starting 5?

Team USA is expected to stick to its usual names for the initial part of the game. Those being Chelsea Gray, Diana Taurasi, Napheesa Collier, A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart. Having said that, 5x Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi is witnessing a reduction in her playing time. So, head coach Cheryl Reeve might consider sending Jackie Young considering the knockout nature of the contest. Meanwhile, the combination of Amy Okonkwo, Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, Elizabeth Balogun, Promise Amukamara, and Ezinne Kalu is working wonders for the Nigerians.

Moreover, the last time these two teams met on an Olympic stage, Team USA pulled off an 81-72 victory courtesy of a double-double exhibition by A’ja Wilson and Brittney Griner. On a more recent note, they locked horns at the Qualifying series in Antwerp, Belgium. An off-the-bench masterclass by Jewell Loyd (18 points and 63.6 FG%) helped them deliver a commanding 100-46 result.

The stage is set for one of the intriguing clashes of the Olympics. While Team USA does carry a favorite tag, the D’Tigress might still have a trick or two up their sleeves. What does the future hold for either team?

Stay tuned for more such updates. And join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.