Team USA completed the Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico an undefeated 5-0 after getting an 84-70 win over Spain.
The final margin of 14 points indicates Spain’s status as a higher-quality opponent, but also a reflects of the understandable “get-this-over-and-get-home” mindset of Team USA.
Returning to the starting lineup for acting head coach Nate Tibbetts was two of the players who helped kickstart Team USA after their sluggish start against New Zealand in Rhyne Howard
and Jackie Young. They were joined by Chelsea Gray, the only American to start all five games, Dearica Hamby and Kahleah Copper, back on the court after sitting out the New Zealand win.
The first five were steadily subbed out for Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese and Kelsey Plum, as the US likewise steadily established an advantage over Spain.
However, Team USA traditionally has been at their very best in international competitions when defensive stops drive their offense. Spain found a measure of success generating offense against the Americans in their own halfcourt, which forced the US to do the same.
For Team USA, that resulted in some possessions with crisp ball movement that created effortless, open shots, balanced by others where second-guessing and searching for the “right” play resulted less beautiful basketball. That the US again went with single-big lineups until the very end of the contest, rotating out Hamby and Angel Reese, prevented Team USA from establishing a greater athletic edge over Spain.
It’s all a process, and is often the case with a team as talented as the Americans, the good outweighed the meh.
The shotmaking from Copper, looking fresh after not playing since Saturday, was the salve for the Americans. Kah led Team USA with 20 points, burying four triples on her way to that total. For the tournament, Copper led the US with almost 13 points per game.
Plum, who shot 50 percent from 3 across the five games, finished with 18 points, hitting three of her four 3-pointers. Hamby added 14 points and seven boards.
Managing director Sue Bird, in consultation with head coach Kara Lawson, likely has some inclinations about how the final roster for September’s World Cup will shake out. The up-and-comers impressed and the vets reminded of their value, while team’s absent-but-excellent superstars will certainly receive strong consideration.
For now, enjoy another tournament win by the best women’s basketball team in the world.
The 16-team Women’s World Cup field is set for September
The 16-team field is officially set for September’s World Cup in Berlin.
On the final day of qualification, Czechia, Mali, Türkiye, Japan, Hungary and Puerto Rico claimed the final six spots, joining the United States, Germany, Belgium, Australia, Nigeria, France, Spain, China, Korea and Italy.
Here’s how the final six entrants earned their tickets to Berlin, as well as how Brazil and Canada didn’t, and a look at the MVPs and All-Star Fives from each tournament.
Czechia, Mali qualify from Wuhan
Entering the final day of the qualifying tournament in Wuhan, two spots in September’s World Cup remained up for grabs, and Czechia and Mali took them.
That means Brazil, despite the efforts of Damiris Dantas and Kamilla Cardoso, will not be going to Berlin. The Brazilians lost their final qualifying game to China, 83-71, finishing fifth in the Wuhan standings. Han Xu turned in her best game of the tournament for the Chinese, scoring 22 points and snagging five boards.
A 97-74 win over South Sudan gave Mali a third-place finish in the standings, and will send them to their third World Cup.
The tournament has served as a stage for the national team’s rising star: Maimouna Haidara. A 6-foot-2 power forward who is 21-years-old, Haidara led Mali in scoring for the tournament, with almost 16 points per game. Her best game was a 24-point and seven-rebound effort in Mali’s win over Czechia. She closed out the tournament with 19 points and six boards against South Sudan.
Czechia lost to tournament-winners Belgium in their final game, 93-50, but a win over Brazil proved pivotal in punching their World Cup ticket. They’ll be participating in the World Cup for the first time since 2014.
Aforementioned Belgium swept through Wuhan with a 5-0 record, totaling a scoring margin of +156. The Cats’ Julie Allemand was named the tournament’s MVP, routinely filling the box score with averages of 9.4 points, 5.6 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 3.4 steals.
Allemand was joined on the All-Star Five by teammate Emma Meesseman, Mali’s Haidara, Czehcia center Emma Cechova and guard Shunyu Yang, who led China’s second-place finish and qualification.
Japan, Türkiye and Hungary book final tickets from Istanbul
With a dominating 83-39 win over Argentina, Japan is back in the World Cup.
Mai Yamamoto, who is slated to be one of inaugural Project B participants beginning in the fall, led Japan in scoring with 15 points per game. In the clinching win, she scored 10 points while dishing eight assists, as Aika Hirashita led Japan with 17 points.
Australia secured their undefeated run in Istanbul with an 82-76 win over Canada. Sami Whitcomb exploded for 23 points, going a perfect 5-for-5 from behind the arc. Alanna Smith added 12 points and eight boards. Kayla Alexander did her best to lift the Canadians to a victory that would have booked their ticket to Berlin with a 26-point and 13-rebound double-double.
With the loss, Canada needed already-qualified Türkiye to beat Hungary to make the 16-team field.
Dorka Juhász had other ideas. With 24 points and nine rebounds, Juhász led Hungary to the 89-74 qualification-clinching win. The last time the Hungarians made the World Cup was 1998—before the 26-year-old Juhász was born.
Juhász was second-place Hungary’s representative on the All-Star Five for the Istanbul qualifiers. Kennedy Burke earned the honor for third-place Türkiye, Yamamoto represented fourth-place Japan and Aaliyah Edwards got the nod from fifth-place Canada. Sami Whitcomb not only received the selection on behalf of the tournament-winning Aussies, but also was named MVP.
Philippines get first W, France finishes 5-0 in Lyon
There was nothing to decide in Lyon on the tournament’s final day, but there were things worth celebrating.
The Philippines scored their first-ever win on the international stage, defeating Colombia 74-59. France also completed their tournament with a 5-0 mark, winning 89-62 over Korea.
Janelle Salaün took MVP honors from Lyon. She shot almost 80 percent from the field as she scored nearly 17 points per game for the first-place French. Marine Johannès joined her on the All-Star Five, along with Leeseul Kang from second-place Korea, Freida Bühner from third-place Germany and Victoria Macaulay from fourth-place Nigeria.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico wins finale to get in
The home-team Puerto Ricans just had to beat New Zealand to secure their trip to September’s World Cup—and they did, winning 77-61. It will be Puerto Rico’s third-straight, and third overall, World Cup appearance.
Imani McGee-Stafford posted a 15-point and 10-rebound double-double in Puerto Rico’s final win, helping her earn a spot on the All-Star Five from San Juan. From first-place Team USA, Clark and Plum were selected, with Clark also voted as MVP. Second-place Italy was represented by Cecilia Zandalasini, while Megan Gustafson received the nod from third-place Spain.
