Serbia vs Spain Women's Olympic Basketball

Match Overview

Serbia and Spain both grabbed opening wins at the Tokyo Olympics, but not without drama. Now they face off in a crucial group-stage battle that could determine who tops the group.

Serbia—Talented but Careless

Serbia scraped past Canada 72–68 in their opener. While they shot a solid 50% from the field and a hot 47.1% from three, they coughed up 28 turnovers, something coach Markovic said is “unacceptable” moving forward.

Top performers: 
 

• Sonja Vasic – 16 pts, 3 rebs, 3 asts

• Dabovic – 11 pts, 6 rebs, 5 asts

• Karagisnick—10 pts, 4 rebs

The talent is there, but the sloppiness could be costly against a physical Spanish side.

Spain – Big in the Paint, Cold Beyond the Arc

Spain edged South Korea 73–69, thanks to dominant inside play. Astou Ndour dropped 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Laura Gil added 16 points and 14 boards. However, they hit just 2 of 12 from deep, which could be a problem if the paint gets crowded.

Key stats:
 

• 48 team rebounds

• 2/12 from three (16.7%)

• Laia Palau (age 41)—6 assists and leadership vibes

Coach Mondello knows they can do better and expects a cleaner showing against Serbia.
 

What to Watch
 

• Can Serbia limit turnovers against Spain's pressure?

• Will Spain improve their perimeter shooting?

• Rebounding battle: Spain crushed the boards in their first game—will Serbia match the hustle?
   

Head-to-Head
 

Spain leads the recent rivalry with 4 wins in 5 games against Serbia. However, Serbia's lone win came in a EuroBasket upset, so don’t sleep on them.

Prediction

Spain's control in the paint and experience give them a slight edge here. If Serbia turns it over again, Spain will capitalize. But if Serbia protects the ball and hits their shots, this could go down to the wire.

Winner: Spain
Predicted Score: Spain 75 – 69 Serbia
Total Points: Under 145.5