FIBA: Team USA gets another gold, Fenerbahçe goes back-to-back in 2024

As it was an Olympic year, international basketball assumed a starring role in the basketball stories of 2024.

It was a year that testified to the increasing international depth of the women’s game, which not only was on display in Paris, but also throughout the competitions of EuroLeague Women, the WCBA and the WNBL. Here’s a look back at Swish Appeal’s coverage of the global game:

Tested Team USA triumphs

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The expectation was that Team USA would capture an eighth-straight gold medal. They did so—barely. The Americans survived a hard-fought gold medal game against the host French to win the program’s 10th overall Olympic gold.

High-quality Olympic action

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Despite Team USA’s triumph, the 2024 Olympics demonstrated the increased depth of talent from around the globe. While Canada disappointed, Belgium, Nigeria and France all impressed. Several WNBA players also enjoyed star turns on the Olympic stage.

Team USA 3×3 perseveres

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For awhile, it looked like the 2024 Olympics were going to be a disaster for Team USA’s 3×3 squad. The foursome, however, stuck together, persevering to capture the bronze medal as the German side won gold.

Fenerbahçe still owns the EuroLeague

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Players familiar to WNBA fans continued to thrive in EuroLeague Women competition in 2024.

EuroLeague Women also served as a venue for WNBA talents who, stateside, often are not featured players to assume the spotlight, as displayed by Bridget Carleton’s record-breaking game for UNI Győr.

However, it was Carleton’s Minnesota Lynx teammates, Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, who helped Fenerbahçe capture a second-consecutive EuroLeague Women crown in 2023-24.

The 2024-25 season, which features a new format, likewise has been defined by Fenerbahçe’s continued superiority, with the Turkish club again benefitting from the talent of past and present WNBA stars.

WNBA players return to WCBA

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The 2023-24 WCBA marked the return of WNBA players for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. WNBA standouts made an immediate impact, headlined by Jonquel Jones leading Sichuan to the title.

The 2024-25 WCBA season again has emerged as a platform for WNBA players to show off their skills, highlighted, thus far, by an MVP-caliber season from Chennedy Carter.

Vets, youngsters shine in WNBL

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The WNBL, likewise, offers an opportunity to WNBA players to develop their games during the offseason, regardless of their level of the experience. After former WNBA legend Lauren Jackson led the Southside Flyers to the 2023-24 WNBL title, veteran sharpshooter Sami Whitcomb has been stupendous for the Bendigo Spirit to start the 2024-25 season.

Otherwise, young WNBA hopefuls have used their time Down Under to burnish their resumes.