Five must-watch players in Belgrade - Group B

BELGRADE (Serbia) - As China, Korea, Great Britain and Spain get ready to do the business at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Group B in Belgrade, who will emerge as the difference-makers for each nation?

Here are five players who will be favorites to be the main architects of success for their respective countries in Group B.

Alba Torrens - Spain

Timing is everything. With Spain set to be without their other big contributor in Astou Ndour, who only returned to the court from a lengthy injury during the last fortnight, getting Torrens back after surgery for 2020 is huge. The prospect of being without both Ndour and Torrens would be a serious concern, especially since the likes of Anna Cruz is also on the sidelines.

But much to the relief of head coach Lucas Mondelo, the winger pulled on her shoes and is gradually getting back to her best. Some people have been skeptical about the true importance of Torrens, since Spain managed to win the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 title without her. But take a look at their long list of historic achievements during the recent era and you will fully appreciate just how much at the heart of it has been this stellar talented player.

An iconic figure in her homeland, Torrens remains one of the best, if not the best, to have not yet set foot in the WNBA. She lives for the national team and you can expect her to bring her trademark all-around game. There are few better things in the women's game than seeing her in full flight, healthy, driving her beloved nation towards more glory and that beaming smile we have seen so many times down the years. Every team need their leaders and those who can make the difference in the most important games – something Torrens has done time and time again.

Xu Han - China

What an amazing find Han has been for China. From the moment she walked onto the court at youth level, including the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Zaragoza during 2016 when she first came to prominence, it has been an upward trajectory of epic proportions.

Her immense height may be the most striking and immediate characteristic, but she is much more than just that. And, she can do it at the top level. We saw her make an impact at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2018 when she made a big impression in Tenerife – off the court too.

She won even more fans with her entertaining interviews, use of English and continual pursuit of breaking down barrier and making it to the WNBA. Few believed it would happen with no tradition of Chinese players making it Stateside, but the New York Liberty drafted her and last year, she realized one of her dreams by suiting up.

Now a first Olympics appearance is on the agenda. Han stood on the podium last year at the Women’s Asia Cup having helped China take silver. She made the All-Star Five and went on to excel in the Women's Pre-Qualifying Tournament. A real handful for opposing defenses, she will play a major part in trying to get China to the main event in Tokyo with her rebounding and shooting efficiency.

Temi Fagbenle - Great Britain

The former WNBA champion was the centerpiece of the Great Britain wheel that witnessed them roll to a historical and unprecedented Semi-Finals spot last year at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket. They had never even made the Top 8 of the competition previously and yet, behind the scoring, rebounding and all-around finesse of the Harvard alumni, they almost grabbed a maiden medal and locked down the most unexpected of tickets to the OQT.

The physicality and production that Fagbenle brings is huge and she will relish this test, since the match-ups in the paint could be the determining factor in Belgrade, looking at how the teams are likely to line up.

A defensive anchor down at the other end of the floor, so much goes through her, that the Brits need her to be fully focused, healthy and finding that dazzling form that saw her make the All-Star Five in Belgrade last summer. She will also get to go up against so many of her colleagues from Perfumerias Avenida when facing Spain, which will be particularly interesting.

Jisu Park - Korea

A phenomenon. There is no other way of describing Park when it comes to Korean basketball and her impact for female hoops in Asia. She has played at more global FIBA youth events than any other player in history, competing at her first U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup when she was only 13 years old. She was also the most impactful player for Korea at senior level during the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2014 in Istanbul aged just 16 years old.

It was a big thrill for many of her fans when she stepped out in the WNBA with Las Vegas Aces in the past two years, having initially been drafted by the Minnesota Lynx back in 2017. Missing the FIBA Women's AsiaCup 2019, Korea were relieved she was back on board for the Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament. Cue her using her size and skills to maximum effect and grabbing a near double-double at the event of 21.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.

She is now anticipating the possibility of an Olympic debut, with Korea having missed out in 2016 and 2012. Perhaps an omen was that that last time the Games were hosted in Asia during 2008, they made it to Beijing. With Park back, their chances of a return still increase significantly.

Marta Xargay - Spain

The 2019-20 club season has been a frustrating one for Xargay, who continued to struggle at Dynamo Kursk before moving back to Spain to play for Spar Citylift Girona. However, while her EuroLeague Women output has been down on some brilliant seasons previously, you only have to look back at what happened at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2019 to see just what a top drawer player the guard is.

Spain were under pressure with Torrens out of the tournament injured, but Xargay stepped up massively to take them to another title and was so impressive that she deservedly made it into the All-Star Five. That underlined her quality and importance to Spain and so expect all of those attributes to be on show again. Once renowned for her defensive powers, she has used these past seasons to show everyone she is a fully-rounded player who will assassinate you with her defense, but also kill you with her passing skills and ability to make a big shot when needed.

So, despite being seemingly out of form, Spain need Xargay to show her true face as always when wearing the national team jersey. It would be a big surprise if she did not deliver for her country as usual.

FIBA