This was the first time that NBA players were eligible to play in Summer Olympics basketball, following a decision of FIBA in April 1989.

[3] The Unified Team, representing the Commonwealth of Independent States, of the recently defunct Soviet Union, won the women's tournament, with China as runner-up.

The United States women's team won the bronze medal after losing to the CIS in the semifinal, suffering their third and last defeat to date in the Olympic basketball history.

Day 4 CIS 92-80 Lithuania Australia 88-66 China Puerto Rico 96-82 Venezuela Day 5 CIS 70-82 Puerto Rico Venezuela 96-88 China Lithuania 98-87 Australia The best two teams from each group advanced to the semifinals.

The United States and Cuba advanced undefeated through the group phase but couldn't reach the finals and ended up facing each other for the bronze medal instead.