The wheelchair basketball tournament promises to be an exciting spectacle at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, with world-class players guaranteed to leave fans on the edge of their seats.
The men’s and women’s competitions will take place between August 29 and September 8 at the Bercy Arena in the French capital. Eight teams will be divided into two groups of four in each gender.
The group games will run until September 2, with the quarter-finals on September 4. The showpiece gold medal bout will be on September 8.
Let’s look closer at the women’s groups and the teams involved.
Group A: Great Britain, China, Canada, Spain
Tokyo 2020 Paralympic silver-medalists China headline Group A, but on this occasion, the three teams joining them have vastly improved rosters, which will make the opening stages interesting.
Great Britain secured their spot at the Paralympics by finishing runners-up at the IWBF European Championships, a courageous effort given that they had to bounce back from an opening-day defeat to Germany. The vast majority of the athletes who featured in the European Championships will be on the floor in Paris. They boast a very experienced squad with a dash of youth blended in. This could be their best chance to finally land a podium finish for the first time.
GB’s conquers at Tokyo 2020, China will join them in the group stages. The Asian powerhouse has been on an upward trajectory since claiming its first medal three years ago. They also claimed silver at the IWBF World Championships last year in Dubai. Advancing to the Paralympics through winning the IWBF Asia Oceania Championships earlier in the year, they have their shot at redemption. Can they go one better in Paris?
New Head Coach Michèle Sung coaching Canada at the 2024 IWBF Women’s Repechage
Canada, one of the most successful Paralympic nations, dominated the IWBF Women’s Repechage in Osaka, winning every game under the guidance of new head coach Michèle Sung, including a crucial qualification-sealing victory over Algeria. With Sung at the helm, can they recapture the glory of their past?
Canada is joined in Group A by fellow IWBF Women’s Repechage qualifiers, Spain. With an explosive, up-tempo style of play, Spain is looking to build on their quarter-final finish at Tokyo 2020. No longer the underdog, they’ve emerged as serious contenders capable of causing upsets. The Spanish team secured their spot in Paris by confidently defeating Thailand in the Repechage.
Standout players
Great Britain has more than one offensive threat available to them, and Robyn Love will certainly be one of the leaders in that sense. A player who is more comfortable near the paint can certainly do a lot of damage there and can create her own shot flawlessly.
Suiling Lin playing for China at the 2022 World Championships
Suiling Lin heads to her third Paralympic Games for China. Her experience and guidance will undoubtedly be a huge factor if the Chinese are to collect the ultimate prize. She can put points on the board when needed, but her true brilliance is making others around her better.
The Canadian offence has mainly been led by the evergreen Kady Dandeneau, who has free reign and puts points up quickly. Her influence affects others on Team Canada, and the high-scoring team will be a threat to anyone on their day.
Spain’s roster is well-rounded offensively, with a solid defensive line that makes life uncomfortable for many teams. Beatriz Zudaire will be one to watch as she isn’t afraid to get physical and has a deadly mid-range shot. When she gets going, it is tough to contain her.
Group B: Netherlands, Japan, USA, Germany
The Netherlands, the Paralympic champions, are seen as favourites to progress from Group B, but Japan, the United States of America, and Germany boast intense challenges to start the Dutch defense.
Netherlands celebrating their becoming World Champions in 2022.
The last three years have been nothing short of a fairytale for the Netherlands as they added the IWBF World and European crowns to their resume alongside Paralympic success in Tokyo. Sealing their spot by winning the IWBF European Championships in front of friends and family in Rotterdam last summer, the Dutch won all eight games convincingly, and with their current form, it’s easy to see why they are favourites.
Japan found its own home comforts back in April thanks to qualification through the IWBF Women’s Repechage in Osaka. They swept Australia aside to seal their spot, and while an outside bet for a podium finish, they head to Paris with nothing to lose, and that could prove dangerous for the other sides.
The same can be said of Germany, who also qualified through the IWBF Women’s Repechage, beating France to deny them a chance of competing in their home games. The Germans have a wealth of experience, and having just missed the podium in Tokyo, missing out on bronze to the USA, they will be keen to right those wrongs.
Like their male counterparts, the USA are the Paralympic wheelchair basketball’s most successful side, with four gold, a silver, and four bronze medals, the most recent of which was a third-place finish in Tokyo. They will be keen to send a statement of intent. Their gold medal success over Canada in the final of the Santiago 2023 Parapan Am Games last year is proof of that.
Standout players
The Netherlands boasts talent everywhere you look. However, they do have arguably the best two women’s wheelchair basketball players in the world, Mariska Beijer and Bo Kramer. The former, a dominant inside player, will typically put up 20 points a game and can use her length to alter shots defensively. The latter is a near triple-double machine. Kramer can score in a wide variety of ways, reduce second-chance opportunities, and is an eagle-eyed passer.
Mari Amimoto playing for Japan against USA in the 2022 World Championships
Like the Dutch, Japan has a double act that can score points quickly. One of the most exciting teams to watch at the IWBF Women’s Repechage, Chihiro Kitada and Mari Amimoto, will be keen to get started in Paris. Two fearless warriors who can do it all on the floor, they will both be a handful on the court together.
Team USA boasts a roster filled with seasoned Paralympians, including several decorated stars who have a history of success. Keep an eye on veteran Rose Hollermann, who will be making her fourth Paralympic appearance. With her wealth of experience and reliable scoring ability, Hollermann is a formidable threat inside the arc and a key player to watch.
Germany also brings plenty of experience to the French capital, with standout players like Mareike Miller, a force inside and one of the best off-ball movers in the game. Their forward players are reliant on the off-the-ball work of their world-class guards, including Anne Patzwald and Catharina Weiss.
To stay updated on the wheelchair basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, visit the event page or follow us on social media #Paris2024WBB for the latest news and highlights.
Written by John Hobbs for IWBF / Photos IWBF- Steffie Wunderl Fotografie/SA Images/X-1
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