The matchups are set as only eight of the original twelve women's basketball teams can continue of their quest for Olympic gold. Each team has only three games to win to accomplish the feat, but one loss in this single elimination tournament will mean the end of their run. Matchups were determined by the final pool standings, with the first seed playing the fourth seed in the other group, and the second and third seeds of each group crossing over and playing one another.
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Quarterfinals
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Semifinals
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Gold
Medal
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Semifinals
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Quarterfinals
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Weds., Aug. 25
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Fri., Aug. 26
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Sat., Aug. 27
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Fri., Aug. 26
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Weds., Aug. 25
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| A1 - Australia |
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United States - B1
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| TBD | TBD | |||||||||||
| B4 - New Zealand |
Greece - A4
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| TBD | TBD | |||||||||||
| A3 - Brazil |
Czech Republic - B3
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| TBD | TBD | |||||||||||
| B2 - Spain |
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Russia - A2
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| TBD |
Bronze Medal
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TBD | ||||||||||
Quarterfinal Matchup Capsules
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7:30 a.m. ET: It has been 21 and straight for the U.S. in Olympic play since 1992, but the best team in the world will face a hostile crowd with elimination at stake. Greece's star scorer, Evanthia Maltsi, came through with a 33 point, 11 rebound game against Japan to propel her team to a quarterfinal berth. After the game, the Greeks celebrated with their raucous crows as if they had won a gold medal. But the celebration could be short-lived. The U.S. wants to work on its turnovers, improve on their timing as well as sure up their defense and should have realtively little trouble with the Greeks. Katie Smith re-injured her knee against China on Sunday, but the severity is still not known. | |||||||||
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9:45 a.m. ET: The two top teams from the 2003 European Championships are set to do battle once again. Russia knocked off the previously unbeaten Czech Republic in the finals last year, though both teams have slightly different looks this time around. Russia's tournament MVP Lucie Blahuskova is not playing this time around, but neither is Kamila Vodichkova, the Czech and Seattle Storm forward. Russia is led by Liberty center Elena Baranova and has been one of the best defensive teams through the first five games. | |||||||||
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1 p.m. ET: Brazil expected to be here. Spain could not have been as confident. Without a doubt, Spain has been the surprise of the tournament thus far, winning four of its five preliminary games and giving the United States its toughest test so far. Amaya Valdemoro has been Spain's best scorer, averaging 17.4 points per contest. Coincidentally, her former Comets teammate and Brazil star Janeth Arcain also has 17.4 ppg to lead her team. Spain struggled in its final win against South Korea | |||||||||
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3:45 p.m. ET: The two qualifiers from the Oceania region of FIBA, Australia and New Zealand also know each other very well. Unfortunately for New Zealand, the Tall Ferns have not beaten Australia in quite some time. In the 2003 FIBA Oceania Championships, the Opals wrapped up the championship with a 84 to 61 victory over the New Zealandand in the second game of the best of three series following a 69 to 55 victory in game one of the series. Australia's Lauren Jackson has been one of, if not the, most dominant player in the Tournament, though New Zealand's frontcourt play has been stellar in its last few games. |
Preliminary Round Team Leaders
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JPN 
CHN
NIG
KOR Individual Leaders
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PPG
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Player
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RPG
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Player
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23.4
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Lauren Jackson (AUS) |
10.2
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Mfon Udoka (NIG) | |
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21.8
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Mfon Udoka (NIG) |
9.6
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Donna Loffhagen (NZL) | |
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20.4
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Evanthia Maltsi(GRE) |
9.2
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Alessandra Oliveira (BRA) | |
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17.8
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Lisa Leslie (USA) |
8.8
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Lauren Jackson (AUS) | |
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17.4
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Janeth Arcain (BRA) |
8.8
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Evanthia Maltsi (GRE) | |
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17.4
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Maria Valdemoro (ESP) |
8.4
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Elena Baranova (RUS) | |
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16.8
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Angela Marino (NZL) |
8.2
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Lisa Leslie (USA) | |
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15.8
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Gina Farmer (NZL) |
7.0
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Maria Stepanova (RUS) |
Single Game Highs
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Pts
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Player
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Reb
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Player
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33
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Evanthia Maltsi (GRE) vs. Japan |
18
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Mfon Udoka (NIG) vs. Greece | |
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31
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Lauren Jackson (AUS) vs. Japan |
16
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Mfon Udoka (NIG) vs. Japan | |
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30
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Madariaga Valdemoro (ESP) vs. China |
14
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Donna Loffhagen (NZL) vs. S. Korea | |
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28
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Mfon Udoka (NIG) vs. Greece |
13
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Alessandra Oliveira (BRA) vs. Japan | |
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28
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Hana Machova (CZE) vs. S. Korea |
13
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Mactabene Amachree (NIG) vs. Japan | |
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28
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Yeon Ha Beon (KOR) vs. Czech |
12
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Elena Baranova (RUS) vs. Greece | |
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27
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Lauren Jackson (AUS) vs. Nigeria |
12
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Lauren Jackson (AUS) vs. Greece |