Women’s 2020 Olympics Basketball Odds, Preview and Best Bets

• A total of 12 teams will compete in women’s basketball competition at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo
• Team USA are heavy favorites at -1100, looking to claim a sixth-straight gold medal
• See the competition layout, preview and odds below

When the 2020 Tokyo Olympics begin, women’s basketball talent from around the globe will take the floor to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in Tokyo, Japan.

Women’s basketball competition tips off on July 25th, the beginning of the preliminary round that concludes Aug. 2nd. The quarterfinals, semifinals and medal rounds will span from Aug. 3rd-7th in Tokyo.

Layout of the competition is split up into three groups, with Canada, Serbia, Spain and South Korea included in Group A; France, Japan, Nigeria and the United States making up Group B; and Australia, Belgium, China and Puerto Rico rounding out Group C. 

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Women’s Basketball Odds

Odds as of July 21st

The United States is heavily favored, as expected, leading up to the start of the preliminary round after claiming the last five Olympic gold medals. Team USA took down Spain for gold at the 2016 Olympics in Brazil, with Spain taking home silver and Serbia defeating France to claim bronze.

USA Tries to Stay on Top

While going for a sixth gold medal in a row and eighth overall, Team USA will try and remain atop the world in women’s basketball competition once again in Tokyo. In the 2016 Olympics, USA finished a perfect 8-0 overall while beating out Spain to claim gold, and there’s no reason to believe the Americans won’t bring home gold once again in these games.

The USA, led by head coach Dawn Staley, features a WNBA-heavy star-studded roster once again, which is one of the reasons they are heavily favored. USA is made up by Las Vegas Aces’ Chelsea Gray and A’ja Wilson; Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier and Sylvia Fowles; Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith; Seattle Storm’s Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd; and Washington Mystics’ Ariel Atkins and Tina Charles. 

The 2020 U.S. Olympic Women's Basketball Team 🇺🇸🙌 pic.twitter.com/0nNwkgCH6E

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 14, 2021

USA has a mix of experience and youth on roster, with six players now taking part in multiple Olympics and six taking the court for Team USA for the first time. Even with some youth on the roster to go with that experience, Team USA should still be on the podium at the end of the 2020 Olympics.

Favorites Outside of USA

Outside of the United States, there are a few teams that could make things interesting while battling for the silver and bronze medals. As seen in the betting odds below that exclude the USA, Australia (+280), Spain (+370) and France (+400) are three favorites to claim those other medals.

Olympic Women’s Basketball Odds Without USA

Australia

The Australian squad is headlined by WNBA players Ezi Magbegor and Stephanie Talbot of Seattle, Rebecca Allen of New York, Leilani Mitchell of Washington and Alanna Smith from Phoenix.

Australia features an impressive roster that gave the USA all it could handle in an exhibition game on July 16th and should be able to put themselves in a good spot to fight for either silver or bronze in Tokyo.

Spain

The Spanish team will try for its second medal in history, led by WNBA player Astou Ndour-Fall from Chicago. Spain is also filled with former WNBA players or players who were drafted by WNBA teams. Spain was probably the toughest competitor to the USA in 2016 and it could put another strong run together to try and upset Team USA this summer.

6⃣ players who can be the x-factor for their countries in #Tokyo2020!#Basketball 🏀https://t.co/8ssRnLzsZs

— FIBA #Tokyo2020 (@FIBA) July 21, 2021

France

France nearly took home a medal in Brazil in 2016, falling to Serbia for bronze to go home empty-handed. In the 2020 games, the French team will try to get revenge and grab a spot on the podium. In a third-straight Olympic appearance this summer, France is led by WNBA player Gabby Williams of Los Angeles.

Best Bet

As the Olympics begin, it is hard to imagine any scenario where the United States doesn’t return to the top spot on the podium and bring home gold once again. Team USA is just too dominant, and the early betting odds listed at -1100 directly reflects that, making them probably the surest bet out there. If you’re feeling like taking a team other than the United States, Australia (+1100) and Spain (+1500) are intriguing options to look at.

Feeling fresh in Tokyo! 🇺🇸 #USABWNT pic.twitter.com/P8UoUPJTHL

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 21, 2021

When it comes to the odds excluding the USA, Australia (+280) is the most intriguing option to choose from and could be the safest bet, although Spain (+370) and France (+400) are also solid options. A team that could make for more so of an edgy pick to bet on in the odds without the USA is Canada (+500), who is looking to take home a medal for the first time ever.

• The Pick (including USA): USA (-1100)
• The Pick (excluding USA): Australia (+280)