Jackie Benitez to Represent Puerto Rico at 2024 Paris Olympics

HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison women's basketball alumna Jackie Benitez ('20) is bound for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris where she will compete on the Puerto Rican national team.

Benitez and her squad secured a spot in the Summer Games on Feb. 10 after defeating New Zealand 69-67 in the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Xian, China. Benitez scored 13 points in the victory, knocking down a trio of three-pointers in 24 minutes of action.

This win earned Puerto Rico its second Olympic appearance in team history. Previously, the team qualified for Tokyo 2020 where they finished in 12th place. Benitez and former JMU teammate Jazmon Gwathmey ('16) were both members of that year's Puerto Rico squad and are the program's lone Olympians.

Benitez appeared in 61 games, starting in 35 during her time at JMU. The All-CAA guard averaged 12.7 points and 2.6 rebounds in 27.4 minutes per game as a Duke after transferring from Siena. In the 2018-19 season, the Jersey City, N.J. native knocked down 95 threes – good for the sixth in program history in single-season makes from deep.

Puerto Rico will compete with Serbia, Spain and China in Group A. The Group Phase begins on July 28 in Lille, France at Pierre-Mauroy Stadium, capped off by Serbia versus Puerto Rico at 3 p.m. All basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics will air on NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and E!, and will stream on Peacock and NBC Olympics platforms starting Saturday, July 27.

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