NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – While I won’t have the pleasure of being courtside in Rio, I will be glued to the action to find out the answers to some key questions.

Can anyone get near to the USA?
In reality, nobody should get within single digits of them. But even the best teams can have an off-night and it depends who it is against and when. Most people think Australia will be the only threat to their dominance. I think only Serbia have any chance in a one-off game, because they are a team who can explode offensively.

Who else will get onto the podium?
Because of the sense of inevitability around USA taking yet another gold, it’s all about silver and bronze. I think there are five contenders for the last two podium steps and would be astonished if it was not two from Canada, Australia, France, Serbia and Spain.

Can Asia land any decent punches?
All eyes will be on Japan and China, or at least mine will be, since I have not been impressed with Asian nations in recent years. China have a proud Olympic record and their transition should be realised soon – even if they have had to utilise a veteran in Chen Nan.

Japan have looked underwhelming in preparation and that is actually a kind description. The reigning Asian champions need to produce and be competitive as they make their Olympic return because they really did stink out the 2014 FIBA Women’s World Championship. They need to find the intensity they showed in that compelling and rampant first-half of last year’s Final against China in Wuhan, which was sensational.

Can the hosts shine?
It’s been a dreadful lead up in recent years for Brazil with personnel and coaching changes, plus some seriously dodgy performances in the 2015 FIBA Americas Women’s Championship and Pan-American games. They have got some of their big-hitting veterans on board, but will going back to the future make them competitive? A tournament is always better when the hosts excel, yet despite some encouraging signs in preparation, Brazil are surely a spent force at the global level.

Which Serbia will show up?
It’s their debut and nobody could ever have imagined this a few years ago. A first Olympics and heading into the event as the top team in Europe. I am an unashamed fan of Serbia and they remain my favourite international team by some distance. I love their approach, the players from the top to the bottom of the roster and most of all, their unpredictability and craziness.

I could write a single column just on them, maybe even a book because I feel so passionately about their play and all the different dimensions to them. While some teams bore me with their overly conservative approach, Serbia’s is along the lines of ‘live is like a box of chocolates’. Yes, I have no clue which Serbia will turn up from one game to the next. But if they do play to their potential, I will be backing them in a big way and make no apology for that.

Who will be MVP?
There are two options of course. Perhaps someone who is absolutely brilliant for the runners-up, a kind of heroic figure who pushes USA close? Or most likely, one of USA’s gold medal winning members? I am rooting for Diana Taurasi to sign off her international career with the accolade. That’s because for me, she is the greatest bar none, and I like to see true legends leave a stage in the most fitting way.

Maya Moore and even debutante Elena Delle Donne are maybe the next most likely? Such a hard one to predict!

Can Africa put a win on the board?
We have seen real progress at youth level after Mali got three wins at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Championship in Zaragoza and now I am looking forward to seeing if Africa can do it on the biggest stage. Although for the word Africa – just substitute it for Senegal. The hopes of an entire continent rest on their shoulders. Angola didn’t even get within 18 points of anyone at London 2012 and Mali were 0-5 in Beijing. It’s 12 years since Africa got that Olympic win when Nigeria took down Korea in Athens. I hope Senegal can at least be highly competitive.

Let the Games begin and let’s make sure women’s basketball shines on the biggest stage of all.

FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.