Defending champions the United States defeated Belgium 87-72 to kick off the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Australia.
| The defending American champions, playing in white, beat the European bronze medalists Belgium in the first round (Photo: AFP) |
The United States, who had won the previous three World Cups, defeated Belgium in the first round of the World Cup in Sydney, Australia, in a game a little closer than expected, 87-72. In the first quarter, the Americans led by ten points and were able to continue to excel well, and the Belgians won the second and fourth quarters with one point each, but the victory of the defending champion was not in danger. The leader of the Americans was Breanna Stewart, who scored 22 points.
In the second group, European champions Serbia lost to Canada, and Sopron’s Nevena Jovanovic scored five points. And in today’s rally, the host Australian team lost out to Olympic bronze medalists France by 13 points. And the winner of the Euroleague with Sopron, American-born Gabby Williams, performed admirably in the European national team, scoring 23 points.
Building on their good teamwork — five players finished with double-digit scores — the Chinese won a decisive 63-point victory over South Korea.
In the World Championship with the participation of 12 teams, the four best teams out of the sixty at the end of the group stage qualify for the quarter-finals. The winner gets a share in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
19. FIBA Women’s World Championship, Sydney (Australia)
First round (22 September)
the group
Bosnia and HerzegovinaPuerto Rico 58-82
United State– Belgium 87-72
South Korea-China 44-107
Group B
Canada– Serbia 67-60
Japan– Mali 89-56
Australia-France 57-70
