Fans are excited to know that Team USA will open their Paris Olympics campaign with a game against Japan. Though the USA has produced one of the best women hoopers, no one can guarantee the result unless the game has concluded. While Team USA is expected to win the game, there can be some impediments in the path of victory as the Japanese will try their best to deny the USA from having the upper hand at the hardwood.

Today, EssentiallySports takes a look at two of the best players that Japan has on its roster who can make it difficult for Team USA and if things go awry can also give an upset. Here’s looking at Asami Yoshida and Yuki Miyazawa who ply their trade as guard and small forward, respectively.

Who is Asami Yoshida?

Yoshida is a guard who plays for the JX-Eneos Sunflowers of the WJBL. She was born on October 9 1987 in Tokyo, Japan, and has been associated with the Sunflowers since 2006. In her maiden season itself, Yoshida demonstrated exceptional balling skills as she led the Sunflowers to the national championship apart from also bagging the Rookie of the Year.

Since then Yoshida has won 9 WJBL Championship titles and was crowned the Most Valuable Player in 2012. Furthermore, Yoshida has twice taken home the Playoffs Most Valuable Player in 2009, and 2012- both the years in which the Sunflowers won the title. All this has catapulted in making Yoshida one of the mainstay players for the Japanese squad.

As for international accolades, she has helped her team clinch gold medals thrice at the FIBA Asia Cup in 2013, 2015, and 2017. Plus, she has added the cherry on top by propelling the Japanese national team to two bronze medals at the Asian Games in 2006 and 2010. Hence, fans anticipate a tough clash when Yoshida takes the court against Team USA and if she pairs up well with Miyazawa then they can create problems for Team USA.

Who is Yuki Miyazawa?

Miyazawa was born on June 2, 1993, in Izumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. The 6-foot baller started playing the sport due to the influence of her elder sister. She soon attracted a lot of attention when she became a member of the Kanazawa Comprehensive High School basketball team. By her sophomore year, Miyazawa started showing her potential and was named as the captain.

She later went on to represent the ENEOS Sunflowers from 2012-2021 and after that has been a part of the Fujitsu Red Wave. During her time with the Sunflowers, she bagged the Playoffs MVP title in 2019 and the Empress Cup MVP for two consecutive years starting in 2018. A notable thing about the power forward is that she was part of the squad that won the silver at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. Hence, she can be a threat to Team USA.

Other than that she has also been a part of the roster that bagged gold at the FIBA Asia Cup four times in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. If Team USA are to win this game then they will have to contain Miyazawa and Yoshida. Meanwhile, USA fans will be waiting for the game to start and hopefully, Team USA’s first outing will fetch them nothing but a win.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.