NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen’s Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – There’s no doubt the biggest women’s tournament at a global level next year will be the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2019.

After the conclusion of the recent FIBA U18 Asia Women’s Championship, the 16 nations who will be lining up has been confirmed – and, there are many reasons to get excited for what lies in wait. So, let’s break this down by Continent.

All Eyes on Asia

 - There is no better place to start than with the host continent of Asia, which will be the home of this event for the first time since 2009 (also in Thailand), while it is also the first time since 2011 it has taken place away from European soil.

- Hosts Thailand will be the ultimate underdogs of the competition, but home support in Bangkok will be on their side and that in itself will provide a fascinating backdrop as they look to cause an upset.

- China will ride into town off the back of five successive titles at the FIBA U18 Asia Women’s Championship, having put the feel good factor back into the women[s game in their homeland – coming off the back of the senior team landing a KO blow on Japan at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Tenerife. China have shown some exciting talents in recent years including Li Yueru and Han Xu, so look out for the dynamic Yuan Li as well. She led her team brilliantly in Bengaluru last week to take MVP honors.

- Japan have the potential to be breathtaking at any tournament with their style alone. Running and gunning at all levels, they are so often everybody’s favorites to watch and next year will be no different.

- Did Australia get a wake-up call with taking only the last podium step at U18? Perhaps. They did have some players such as Shyla Heal missing and the playmaker may well be back next year, while the likes of Lily Scanlon got hurt. What has become crystal clear is that losing in the new Asia zone means they can’t be average or take their foot off the gas. Maybe in the past against New Zealand it was possible at the Continental level. Not any longer. I expect them to react positively next year with Miela Goodchild and Nnenna Agnes Emma-Nnopu shining too.

- Korea showed in beating Australia in the first phase and so maybe  rumors of their pending demise from all tiers of the women’s game due to a shrinking talent-pipeline may have been exaggerated. Or, was that victory just a fluke? Either way, with Jiyhun Park to call upon, they have a super leader. Remember the teenager played with the seniors recently in Tenerife.

Flying the African Flag

- The recent success of Senegal and Nigeria at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018 in Tenerife has made people sit up and take notice more than ever before about the balling talent that Africa has. It will be up to both Mali and Mozambique to continue this momentum and fly that flag for even longer. If the ultimate aim is to get Africa an additional seat at major tournament tables, they need to keep women’s basketball on the Continent moving upwards.

- This trajectory will only take place if Mali in particular can flex their muscles. Watch out for U18 Women’s African Championship MVP Assetou Sissoko – along with the excellent Aminata Sangare.

- Meanwhile Mozambique, who are appearing at the event for the very first time, will rely on Filipa Calisto who made the All-Star Five earlier this year when she propelled her team into the U18 Final on home soil in Maputo. It will be an uphill climb, but it’s always fun to see a new nation splashing in these kind of waters!

The Euro Show

- The strength in depth of Europe is always apparent at this event and of course at the last edition, Russia shocked the USA by taking the title on a memorable night in Udine, when we witnessed one of the finest games the competition has ever seen. It was ab absolute classic!

- While Russia won’t be in Bangkok to defend their title, there’s still arguably the freshest feel ever when it comes to the European nations heading to the Thai capital.

 - Spain have a longstanding tradition and will be dangerous, the dynamic team basketball of Hungary will be high on my watch-list as I love the likes of Aliz Varga, Orsolya Toth and Barbara Angyal - plus the history-making new European U18 champions Germany will debut and that means seeing Nyara Sabally and Co which is always a delight.

- Throw in another first-timer in Belgium who have some very exciting players and also the unpredictable Latvia, and you then realize there could be a highly entertaining ‘Euro Show’ to admire.

Americas With Points To Prove

- I am not sure where to even start with the Americas! There is so much to talk about. The fact that USA will head to Bangkok without a title to defend is the biggest case for my title of having a point to prove. For a time, the unthinkable scenario of not holding a women’s global youth title (U17 or U19) actually came true for them. They climbed back to the top of the U17 podium earlier this year in Minsk, so part one of the journey back to the top of the tree is complete. Now they must show who is boss again – having won six consecutive U19 titles between 2005 and 2015.

- Canada have struggled to take a step up to the podium at U19 and are still looking for inspiration – but maybe the sensational Laeticia Amihere can come back to inspire them?

- As for Argentina, they will want to restore some pride after senior failure recently in Tenerife, but they could be fuelled by their younger generation and specifically, Florencia Chagas and Sofia Acevedo – two of the most entertaining players of their generation anywhere and who shone in Belarus earlier this year.

- Colombia will be another first timer, but can they compete? Much will be down to the consistency of Mayra Caicedo and how Maria Alvarez shoots. It certainly appears the pressure and spotlight is really n South American women’s basketball right now.

- These teams have a collective point to prove that the Americas does still deserve four spots.

The FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2019 will take place 20-28 July. Check out #FIBAU19 across all social channels for more.

Paul Nilsen

FIBA

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