The United States won the gold medal after defeating France in the final.[3] Australia captured the bronze medal with a win over Belgium.[4]Diana Taurasi of the victorious American women's national team became the only basketball player with six Olympic gold medals, joining dressage equestrian Isabell Werth of Germany and Hungarian sabre fencer Aladar Gerevich as the only Olympians to win six gold medals in the same event.[5]
Format
The twelve teams were split into three groups of four teams, and a single round-robin was held within each group. The first- and second-placed teams of each group advanced to the quarterfinals as well as the two best third-placed teams. After the preliminary round, the teams were grouped according to their results, and a draw paired teams between the groups for the quarterfinals. For the draw the teams were seeded in four pots, with the top two-ranked teams (Pot D), 3rd–4th ranked teams (Pot E), 5–6th ranked teams (Pot F) and 7–8th ranked teams (Pot G). Teams from Pot D faced a team from Pot G and teams from Pot E a team from Pot F. Teams from the same group could not face each other again. If both teams from Pot D qualified for the semifinals, they could not play against each other.[6]
The 12 teams were divided into four pots of three teams based on their FIBA World Ranking. The three groups were formed by drawing one team from each pot. Two teams from the same continent could not be placed into the same group, with the exception of European teams, where up to two teams could be in the same group.
For broadcast purposes, defending champions the United States and hosts France were both to be drawn into either Group B or C.[11]
Source: FIBA Rules for classification: 1) classification points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head game points difference; 4) head-to-head number of game points scored.
Source: FIBA Rules for classification: 1) classification points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head game points difference; 4) head-to-head number of game points scored. (H) Hosts Notes:
Source: FIBA Rules for classification: 1) classification points; 2) head-to-head results; 3) head-to-head game points difference; 4) head-to-head number of game points scored.
