2024 Olympics: Nigeria’s Kalu headlines ladies’s basketball standouts

The ladies’s 5×5 basketball group stage has concluded, and as groups make the journey to Paris from Lille, a hierarchy of gamers is being solid.

Like at all times, lots of the event’s superstars have had related fates within the WNBA. Belgium’s Emma Meesseman, the 2019 Finals MVP for the Washington Mystics, leads the event in factors (26.3 per recreation) for the second-straight Olympics. Dallas Wings star Satou Sabally is second, and her 33 factors in Germany’s win over Japan was essentially the most scored in an Olympic recreation since 2016. A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart have been expectedly unguardable for Workforce USA. Nonetheless, a handful of lesser recognized gamers are rising as stars in their very own proper, and making their names recognized on the most important stage.

Ezinne Kalu (Nigeria)

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs

Fairly frankly, Nigeria’s whole roster deserves a nod for his or her performances so far. Even the most-researched basketball analysts didn’t count on D’Tigress to make it out of Lille, and but Nigeria completed group play with a 2-1 document and a optimistic level differential. They’re the primary African group—ladies’s or males’s—to succeed in the Olympic quarterfinals. They’ll tackle Workforce USA, who hasn’t misplaced an Olympic recreation since 1992, on Wednesday.

Followers of Workforce USA who’ve but to look at Nigeria compete will know the title Ezinne Kalu by the point the ultimate whistle sounds. Kalu, who hails from Newark, New Jersey, had a prestigious profession at Savannah State College earlier than embarking on her ongoing worldwide basketball journey. D’Tigress run by way of Kalu. She’s fifth within the event in scoring at 19.3 factors per recreation, and all 4 gamers above her have been multiple-time WNBA All-Stars. She notched 19 factors, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals in Nigeria’s upset of Australia, one of the vital well-rounded performances within the group stage.

Kalu’s finest trait could also be her means to get to the free-throw line— one thing that’s typically dismissed as an actual talent in basketball discourse. She’s capturing 7.3 free throws per recreation (second within the event), and changing them at an 86.4 % clip. She likes to play off two ft and soar into the physique of larger defenders, forcing them into a call: go for the block and danger fouling or permit Kalu to attain. If she will get downhill on the identical price towards Workforce USA’s guards, she’ll put the American forwards in uncomfortable positions. Getting A’ja Wilson or Breanna Stewart in foul hassle would make Wednesday’s quarterfinal much more aggressive.

Alexis Peterson (Germany)

Photograph by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE through Getty Photographs

Group C introduced as an uphill battle for Germany, who had by no means earlier than competed in an Olympic event. Between the indomitable Workforce USA, battle-tested Belgium and streaky Japan, German followers have been content material sufficient seeing their group take the court docket in Lille. After besting Belgium and Japan, Germany will likely be making the journey to Paris for the quarterfinals.

Satou Sabally is undoubtedly the star of the German aspect, however Alexis Peterson has confirmed simply as vital to their group success. Peterson has performed the second-most minutes of anybody within the event, trailing solely Emma Meesseman of Belgium. She’s averaging 13 factors on 40/36/90 splits, including six assists per recreation. Peterson has unmatched pace on the ground, and she or he paces a German offense that usually seems to be misplaced when she’s on the bench. Sabally calls for consideration, however Peterson makes groups pay for affording her an excessive amount of.

Peterson was the 2016 ACC Participant of the 12 months at Syracuse and was chosen No. 15 total by the Seattle Storm within the 2017 WNBA Draft. She hasn’t performed within the WNBA since her rookie season, however not for a scarcity of attempting. Peterson was named to a few completely different coaching camp rosters since 2018, most not too long ago with the Las Vegas Aces earlier than the 2023 season. Being missed has clearly fueled the 5-foot-5 level guard. She’s been essentially the most animated character on the court docket in France, particularly in Germany’s matchup with Workforce USA. A motivated Alexis Peterson is without doubt one of the final issues any group desires to see within the knockout stage.

Maki Takada (Japan)

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photographs

Albeit a return to actuality, Japan’s winless group stage is disappointing within the shadow of their 2020 silver medal marketing campaign. Losses to Germany and Belgium felt preventable for a group that dominated simply three years prior. Nonetheless, group struggles received’t invalidate spectacular particular person performances.

She’ll go away France empty handed, however Maki Takada made essentially the most out of her third, and sure last, Olympic expertise. Takada anchored Japan in scoring at 15.3 factors per recreation, good for ninth within the group stage. She was simply essentially the most environment friendly high-volume scorer in Lille, capturing 61.3 % from the ground, 41.7 % from 3 and 75 % from the free throw line. On an undersized Japanese group that struggles to defend, Takada’s 6-foot-1 body allowed her to compete on each ends of the ground.

Takada’s scoring output and effectivity have been eerily just like her manufacturing in Tokyo. Whereas these Olympics have introduced Japan’s collective means into query, Takada has accomplished nothing however solidify her personal repute as an offensive powerhouse. Age could sadly isolate Takada from WNBA contract presents. She has the talent and the scale to compete with the league’s high expertise, however extending a precious roster spot to a 34-year-old with no stateside expertise could also be a misplaced trigger for many basic managers. Nonetheless, Takada may very well be a candidate for future enlargement groups just like the Golden State Valkyries, who could look to complement their enlargement roster with abroad expertise.

Mai Yamamoto deserves a short point out as properly. The 24-year-old guard recorded 17 factors and 5 assists towards Workforce USA, however sustained a concussion within the recreation and was unable to compete within the different two group stage contests. Yamamoto, who was a member of Japan’s 3×3 group within the 2020 Olympics, shortly established herself as a high possibility for her nation and will likely be a reputation to look at in worldwide basketball going ahead.