OLYMPICS News: 4 Key Athletes for the Final Week

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1. A’JA WILSON, WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The inevitability of the U.S. women winning their eighth consecutive basketball title shifts the focus to other important questions, such as who will be the MVP. Wilson, the versatile Las Vegas Aces center, led the Americans in scoring and blocks at the Tokyo Games. Wilson and Breanna Stewart, both dominant in the paint, are fundamental pieces of the team. Both played significant minutes in decisive wins against Japan and Belgium last week.

2. SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, MEN’S BASKETBALL

The talented NBA guard leads two promising teams, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Canada, aiming to reach their full potential. If Canada medals at the Olympics, it would be the first for the men’s program since 1936. With several players capable of shooting, slashing, and defending, everything revolves around Gilgeous-Alexander, an All-NBA key figure. Canada will rely on him to score or create points in critical moments of the knockout round, starting with the quarterfinal match against France this Tuesday, increasing the adrenaline for the Olympics betting odds opportunities.

3. JULIEN ALFRED, 200M

Shericka Jackson’s withdrawal from a potential 100m duel with Alfred and Sha’Carri Richardson seemed to free the Jamaican sprinter, who owns five of the eight fastest times in 200m history, to focus on her main event. Then Jackson also withdrew from the 200m. Alfred, the newly crowned Saint Lucian sprint queen, won 100m glory in 10.72 seconds and her 200m heat the following day on minimal sleep. World runner-up Gabby Thomas will probably be favored in Tuesday’s final, but Alfred’s confidence should be sky-high, raising the volume on all Olympics betting odds.

4. DOMINIKA BANEVIC, BREAKING

Banevic is a 17-year-old Lithuanian emerging star of the newest Olympic sport. At the urban park of Place de la Concorde on Friday, 16 B-Girls will dance in a series of head-to-head battles while judges rate their artistry, originality, musicality (timing moves to the DJ’s beat), and technique. Known in breaking circles as “B-Girl Nicka,” Banevic is the reigning world and European champion and will try to become her country’s first Olympic champion in any discipline since 2012.