The USA women’s basketball team, the seven-times Olympic champions, booked their place at the Rio 2016 Games by winning their ninth world championship crown on Sunday (5 October). By beating Spain 77-64 in the final in Istanbul, the United States women joined their male counterparts as the first two basketball teams to qualify for Rio 2016.

The pre-tournament favourites finished the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women undefeated, winning all six games in Turkey. The final victory at the Fenerbahce Arena secured the USA’s fourth title in the last five world championships.

“It’s very difficult to win these championships,” said USA head coach Geno Auriemma. “There’s a lot of great teams and they’re getting better all the time. Even though everybody expects us to do it, that doesn’t make it easier. I’m really proud of our team. These guys make a great sacrifice, because they just finished playing in their own league. It’s a tremendous sacrifice that they made for their country, and I can’t be more proud of them.”

Maya Moore top scored in the final with 18 points and took the most valuable player award for the tournament, while veteran USA guard Sue Bird won a third world championship gold medal (2002, 2010, 2014) that, when added to her bronze medal from 2006, makes her the most decorated player in the history of the tournament.

“I had no idea,” Bird said of her accomplishment. “It really just shows that I’ve had a lot of great coaches and some amazing teammates along the way. I definitely didn’t do this by myself. And I just tried to be whatever it was that my team needed me to be, and tried to be consistent at that. I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to do it for this long.” 

USA captain and record-breaker Sue Bird receives the world championship trophy (Photo: FIBA)

The Rio 2016 women’s basketball tournament will be disputed by 12 teams. The other berths will be decided in five continental qualifying tournaments in 2015 and at the International Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2016, where five spots will be up for grabs. Brazil, as host nation, may have their place guaranteed through an invitation by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA).

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.