Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi chase 5th gold medals

There is work to do for the United States women’s basketball team to win a seventh straight gold medal at Olympics 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.

Like the men’s team, the women scuffled during their exhibition calendar, dropping games to Australia and a WNBA All-Star team. Still, Team USA — which carries a dominant 49-game Olympic winning streak dating back to the bronze medal game in 1992 — is the overwhelming favorite.

Team USA roster

The team is experienced and loaded with talent. Reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, one of six first-time Olympians on the roster, and reigning WNBA Finals MVP Breanna Stewart lead the way while Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi are each looking for a fifth gold medal, unprecedented for a team sport.

Here is the full roster (listed with position, WNBA team, number of Olympics berths):

Ariel Atkins, guard, Washington Mystics, 1st Olympics

Sue Bird, guard, Seattle Storm, 5th

Tina Charles, forward, Washington Mystics, 3rd

Napheesa Collier, forward, Minnesota Lynx, 1st

Skylar Diggins-Smith, guard, Phoenix Mercury, 1st

Sylvia Fowles, center, Minnesota Lynx, 4th

Chelsea Gray, guard, Las Vegas Aces, 1st

Brittney Griner, center, Phoenix Mercury, 2nd

Jewell Loyd, guard, Seattle Storm, 1st

Breanna Steward, forward, Seattle Storm, 2nd

Diana Taurasi, guard, Phoenix Mercury, 5th

A’ja Wilson, forward, Las Vegas Aces, 1st

Team USA coaches

Hall of Fame South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, who won three gold medals as a player, is tasked with mixing and matching all of this talent. Her assistants are Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, former Seattle Storm head coach Dan Hughes and Connecticut Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti.

Team USA schedule, opponents

The tournament consists of three groups with four teams apiece — the Americans are in a group with France, Japan and Nigeria. The top two teams from each group, plus the top two third-place teams in the round robin, advance to the quarterfinals. Australia and Spain are other teams to keep an eye on.

Tuesday, July 27: USA vs. Nigeria, 12:40 a.m. ET, USA Network

Friday, July 30: USA vs. Japan, 12:40 a.m. ET, USA Network

Monday, Aug. 2: USA vs. France, 12:40 a.m. ET, USA Network

Quarterfinals: Aug. 3 and 4

Semifinals: Aug. 6

Bronze medal game: Aug. 7, 3 a.m. ET

Gold medal game: Aug. 7, 10:30 p.m. ET