U.S. Basketball
United States Women’s basketball has dominated the Olympic stage for the past two decades. With the recent explosion in popularity the sport has found in its home country this season, the excitement behind the American players has never reached greater heights. At the helm of the success rests 42-year-old Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi. As one of the oldest Olympians competing in Paris, Taurasi holds the record for most Olympic titles in U.S. basketball history, heading into her sixth consecutive games.
Other Team USA Highlights:
- Two-Time MVP & 2024 Frontrunner A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces)
- Two-Time MVP Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
- Naphessa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
- Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury)
- Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces)
- Brittney Griner (Phoenix Mercury)
- Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty)
- Jewell Loyd (Seattle Storm)
- Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces)
- Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut Sun)
- Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)
Simone Biles
This year, the Chinese are bringing the most decorated men’s gymnastics team with 37 World & Olympic medals across five competitors. Meanwhile, on the women’s side, U.S. Gymnast Simone Biles has racked up 37 medals all on her own in the past decade. From powerful vaults to impressive new floor moves named after her, Biles has truly disrupted the sport. But even more than her list of accolades – which is extensive and remarkable – Biles has proven herself a role model for her vocal support of mental health awareness. After withdrawing from events in Tokyo for the sake of her physical and mental wellness, she showed spectators worldwide the importance of not only stepping up but also stepping back.
Biles is not the only highlight of the 2024 U.S. Women’s artistic team. With the most diverse team in history and the oldest team since 1952, the image of gymnastics is changing for the better.
Other Gymnasts to Watch:
- Jade Carey (United States)
- Jordan Chiles (United States)
- Suni Lee (United States)
- Hezly Rivera (United States)
- Rebeca Andrade (Brazil)
- Kaylia Nemour (Algeria)
Barbora Krejčíková
On July 13, 2024 – a mere two weeks before the Paris Olympics – Czech tennis star Barbora Krejčíková stunned at Wimbledon by becoming the second lowest-ranked player to win the singles title. Seeded 31, Krejčíková upset seventh seed Jasmine Paolini for the championship after a series of unexpected wins throughout the tournament. With this victory, she has earned her place in the top 10 singles rankings again as she looks to repeat her 2020 gold in Paris.
Katie Ledecky
Since her 2012 debut at age 15, Katie Ledecky has broken 16 world records in the pool, becoming the most decorated female swimmer in history. In her two signature events, she remains undefeated on the world stage – 800m freestyle (6-0) and 1500m freestyle (6-0). To quote Mariska Hargitay in the NBC promos for the Paris games, “If Katie keeps touching the wall first, she could end up with more Olympic medals than any other American woman ever.”
Parker Valby
Heading into her first games to compete in the 10,000-meter race, 21-year-old Florida Gator track star Parker Valby made history this season as the first female distance runner to win five NCAA Championships in a season. The up-and-coming star also qualified for the 5,000 in Paris but has selected to focus on her strength. An event that no other collegiate runner competed in, yet she faced with deep calm, helping her to finish only 0.49 seconds behind the winner Weini Kelati at trials. Both Valby and Kelati will represent Team USA in Paris on August 9 for a race that promises to be unforgettable.
Other Track & Field Stars:
- Valarie Allman (Top 12 U.S. Discus Marks, Tokyo Gold Medal)
- Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (100m/200m, Jamaica)
- Anna Hall (Heptathlon, United States)
- Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (400m hurdles, United States)
- Sha’Carri Richardson (100m/200m, United States)
Dominika Banevič
Also known as B-Girl Nicka, Lithuanian breakdancer Dominika Banevič won the 2023 European Championship at age 16. The sport will be making its debut in Paris as will Nicka. Competing against dancers twice her age, Nicka is making waves in a sport that has only recently reached wider audiences. The rise of one-on-one competition, opposed to the crew events which previously dominated, has set the stage for her and her fellow breakers to shine.
–
The above list does not come close to showcasing all the incredible female athletes due to represent their countries this summer. With the immense growth in viewership, attendance, and popularity for women’s sports across the globe, the future is bright. Every event and every nation have individuals truly changing the game. Paris will give the whole world a chance to see why everyone watches women’s sports.
Recent Comments