Competition History
For any fan hoping to catch a glimpse of the stars of tomorrow, the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup is a must-see spectacle. Always has been since its launch in 2010, always will be.
In that very first edition, certain Hall-of-Fame players Breanna Stewart of the USA and Emma Meesseman of Belgium graced the big stage in France and helped set the tournament alight.
Other standout players over the years have included China's Li Meng in 2010, Italy's Cecilia Zandalasini in 2012 in Amsterdam, Korea's Park Jisu and Canada's Bridget Carleton in 2014 in the Czech Republic, China's Han Xu in 2016 in Spain, and the exciting trio Paige Bueckers (USA), Sika Kone (Mali) and Iliana Rupert (France) in Belarus in 2018.
The USA have been the most dominant team, winning four of the five U17 Women's Basketball World Cups, with the Ezi MagBegor-led Australia reaching the top of the podium on the other occasion.
Spain, France, Hungary, Canada, China and Italy have also enjoyed top three finishes.
The tournament is held every two years, although the coronavirus pandemic prevented the 2020 championship from taking place.
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The Best of FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2010
Back in 2010, FIBA launched the first FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup and there were plenty of talking points and talent on show in France.
We've hit the rewind button to the inaugural edition of the competition 12 years ago and here's all you know about how it went down in Rodez and Toulouse.
The best team : USA
It was not a huge surprise that the most decorated and powerful women's basketball nation on earth emerged from this maiden event with the gold medal. However, the sheer margin of victories across their unbeaten trail was a real eye-opener. They were ruthlessly dominant and indeed unstoppable with no opponent getting within less than 25 points of them during the entire competition.
Elizabeth Williams led the champions in both scoring and rebounding with 13.5 points and 7.6 boards per game, while Ariel Massengale handed out most assists with 5.4 per game.
Rank Team W-L 1. USA
8-0 2. France
5-3 3. China
6-2 4. Belgium
5-3 5. Japan
4-4 6. Russia
3-5 7. Australia
4-4 8. Spain
2-6 9. Argentina
4-3 10. Turkey
3-4 11. Canada
2-5 12. Mali
0-7 The best player: Meng Li - China
Landing the bronze medal, China were fueled by the kind of all-action wing play that Meng Li has since shown at the senior level. Currently a top performer for China, she showed those leadership skills in France, contributing 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Se was chosen MVP for this competition.
The best game: Japan vs Australia
After both teams had lost in the Quarter-Finals, you might have forgiven them for feeling sorry for themselves. But they showed just how important the fight for 5th place was as Japan won an absolute classic shootout 95-92. The loss was tough on Australia's Gretel Tippett who had a jaw-dropping 34 points and 16 rebounds, but Japan had too much in the tank and shot the ball well from outside with 13 triples. They also had two future senior stars, with an stunning 30 points from Yuki Miyazawa and 23 points from Moeko Nagaoka.
The best performance: Olivia Epoupa - France
While Gretel Tippett of Australia might argue she had the best display of the competition, there was an absolutely sensational performance from Epoupa and not least because it was in the Semi-Finals. Despite being the smallest player on the court, the livewire guard posted an incredible and towering performance for the host nation to inspire a 59-49 success for host nation France in a big derby against Belgium. It was an early glimpse of what fans would get to see on a regular basis from Epoupa as she claimed a sparkling double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, also handing out 5 assists and grabbing 3 steals.
The superstar: Breanna Stewart - USA
Introducing herself to the global stage and as the second youngest on the USA roster, this was the precious first introduction of Stewart to many fans (12,8 points, 57,1% shooting and 7,4 rebounds per game). Of course since then, her trajectory has been so steep that she is arguably the most talented and widely recognized star of the women's game. A true global icon for female hoops with her collection of titles and medals for club and country having ticked just about every single box.
The legend in the making: Emma Meesseman - Belgium
Anyone who saw Meesseman at youth level knew she was destined to be one of the best players around if she continued working hard. Since 2010, it's been a fairytale, with the forward an absolute marquee centerpiece for the Belgian Cats, having propelled them to so many historical highs such as a first ever FIBA Women's EuroBasket medal, first Olympic Games and first FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. In all cases it has been the massive numbers and towering performances of Meesseman that has paced those achievements. In Rodez and Toulouse she averaged a near tournament double-double of 14.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. 12 years later and she is on course to be a Belgian basketball legend and some would argue that will soon expand to at least a European level.
The hidden star: Pelin Bilgic - Turkey
The guard was part of a deep backcourt rotation so was not a standout member of the team with less than 10 minutes per game. Fast forward to the current day and Bilgic is the leading light for Turkey at senior level, having also excelled with Galatasaray in EuroLeague Women where she topped the assists chart in the competition with 6.7 per outing.
Stats leadersScorers
Player Points Per Game 22.4 21.6 18.5 18.0 16.6 Rebounds
Player Rebounds Per Game Diana Cabrera
10.6 9.8 9.6 9.3 Dong Yu
9.1 Assists
Player Assists Per Game 5.4 4.4 4.1 4.0 3.6 -
The Best of FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2012
Following on from a successful first ever edition two years earlier, the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup landed in Amsterdam during 2012 and there was lots to love.
Here's our review of what went down in the Netherlands.
The best team and still unbeaten : USA
Having went 8-0 at the inaugural 2010 edition, reigning champions USA repeated that feat in Amsterdam to extend their perfect record to 16 games. Like they did in France, USA were rampant for the most part, although they did have to work hard to win the Final against Spain, eventually riding out 75-62 winners.
The USA were too strong for Spain on the boards with a massive 59 rebounds, helped by a double-double of 13 points and 12 boards from Rebecca Greenwell. Diamond DeSheilds also capped off a fine tournament with 13 points, while her teammate Lindsay Allen pulled the strings with 6 assists and that resulted in her finishing top of that chart for the competition.Rank Team W-L 1. 8-0 2. 5-3 3. Canada
5-3 4. 5-3 5. 5-3 6. Italy
5-3 7. 3-5 8. Netherlands
4-4 9. Korea
3-4 10. 1-6 11. Brazil
2-5 12. 0-7
The best player: DeShields leads the way
From left to right : Linnae Harper, Leticia Romera, Diamond DeShields, Yunika Nakumura and Evelyn Mawuli
Diamond DeShields was the pivotal figure for the champions throughout and was handed the MVP trophy after averaging 14.8 points. 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Her gold medal came a year after winning the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup when she played despite being three years younger than some of her teammates. DeShields was joined in the All-Star Five by USA teammate Linnae Harper whose defense was incredible (7.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 steals, and 2.4 assists per game).
Leticia Romero was rewarded for propelling Spain to a silver medal (13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists per game). Japan missed out on the podium having made the Semi-Finals, but their exciting style and brand of basketball won plenty of fans and it saw their two top performers Evelyn Mawuli ( 9.4 points, 9.5 rebounds per game) and Yunika Nakumura (17.8 points, 6.5 rebounds per game) taking places in the prestigious lineup.The best victory: Mali take first win for Africa
In addition to USA keeping their crown, the other big headline in Amsterdam was undoubtedly a first ever win for Africa in the competition. With Mali having went winless in 2010, they got off the mark with a landmark first victory for themselves and for their Continent, They beat Brazil 58-51, with Mariam Maiga the hero as she netted a memorable 18 points.
The best game: Canada vs Netherlands
It may have been low scoring at 56-55, but the absolute drama and intensity of the Quarter-Finals matchup between Canada and Netherlands was incredible. In the end, there was heartbreak for the hosts as Canada squeezed out the win behind a fine 18 points from Kia Nurse. Canada went on to take the bronze medal, with Nurse establishing herself as a leader and star for the senior national team in subsequent years.The best performance: Hind Ben Abdelkader - Belgium
Take your pick. Never has a player been so dominant scoring-wise across multiple games at youth events. Belgian talent Ben Abdelkader was a walking bucket and still is to this day. She was the tournament's top scorer with 19.4 points per game and incredibly. accrued four of the top eight individual points tallies in the competition. She twice scored 29 points, with perhaps the most potent being an 8 of 11 shooting effort against Korea. Notably, Ben Abdelkader just returned to the Belgian Cats after a long hiatus and is now eying up a spot at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney.
The hidden star: Saori Miyazaki - Japan
The guard was part of a Japan team that reached the Semi-Finals but just fell short of the podium. Miyazaki was not always a leading player for her side, only 5th in minutes per game (24 minutes per game) and 5th in points scored (7.4 points per game). However, she still managed to lead Japan in assists and that was the sign that she was something of a hidden gem. Fast forward almost a decade to 2021 and Myazaki appeared at Tokyo 2020 to help her country take that historic silver medal, also being the most efficient baller and second top scorer at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2021 when Japan won the title.
The 13 year-old phenomenon: Jisu Park - Korea
Three (and in some cases almost four) years younger than most players at the event, this was the first of many footsteps for the Korea phenomenon. She almost logged a debut tournament double-double (9.0 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game) and as she would prove in later years, she's a shot-blocking machine, leading the competition with a massive 27 swats. Meanwhile to truly put into context what an incredible young baller she was, just two years after appearing in Amsterdam, she was the leader for the Korea senior team at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in 2014 - aged just 15-years-old.
The best story: NBA All-Star star watches daughter, Kaela Davis - USA
Former NBA baller and 2001 All-Star Antonio Davis was present in Amsterdam to proudly watch his daughter Kaela win gold for USA (8.8 points, 3.9 rebounds per game). Her dad played for a host of NBA clubs including the Pacers, Raptors, Bulls and Magic and he went on to watch Kaela play in the WNBA and most notably, win the EuroCup Women title in 2018 with Galatasaray.Stats leaders
Scorers
Player Points Per Game 19.4 17.8 15.0 14.8 Hulya Coklar
14.7 Rebounds
Player Rebounds Per Game 11.9 10.1 9.9 9.5 8.9 Assists
Player Assists Per Game 4.1 3.8 3.6 Heji An
3.6 Leticia Romero
3.4 -
The Best of FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2014
The third edition of the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup was a landmark event in Czech Republic as the field was expanded to 16 nations, with many also taking first ever wins.
It also witnessed a classic Final matchup and arguably the best individual performance the event has ever seen in the title game itself. Here's our review of the action in Pilsen and Klatovy, while our wrap of the 2010 edition is HERE and the 2012 edition HERE.
The best team, racking up the three-peat : USA
USA claimed the title for a third successive edition and once again, they did so with an unbeaten record once again, winning all seven of their games on Czech soil. An early 88-40 demolition of France signalled a cakewalk for the reigning champions and that is how it panned out - until Spain came within a bucket of causing a massive upset in the gold medal game.
The champions were propelled by a real team effort, with Katie Lou Samuelson, Joyner Holmes and Lauren Cox all influential on the wing and in the forward positions, while Asia Durr and Arike Ogunbowale took the lead in the backcourt.Rank Team W-L 1. 7-0 2. 6-1 3. Hungary
6-1 4. Czech Republic
4-3 5. 6-1 6. 3-4 7. 4-3 8. France
3-4 9. 5-2 10. 2-5 11. 3-4 12. `1-6 13. 3-4 14. Mexico
1-6 15. Slovakia
2-5 16. Egypt
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The best player: all about Salvadores, MVP despite taking silver
When you are crowned MVP despite your team not winning the title, you know you have put in a special performance and that was the case with Angela Salvadores of Spain. Her inspirational 40-point show in the Final was arguably one of the best performances at any FIBA youth event, not just the U17 Worlds. She led Spain with 19.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
USA only just dug out the victory and their campaign was fuelled by two excellent showings from Katie-Lou Samuelson and Joyner Holmes. The former netted 13.9 points per outing and almost shot 50 percent from the floor, while Joyner showed her strength inside with 10.6 points and 5.7 boards per game.
Meanwhile Hungary also witnessed two of their players make the prestigious lineup as they made history by taking the last podium step. Debora Dubei brought the noise as her team's leading scorer with 15.6 points per game as Kiss did the business in the paint with and average of 13.3 points and 8.3 boards.
The best performance: Angela Salvadores - Spain
The monumental effort from Salvadores was indeed one for the ages. Never to be forgotten. Sometimes you just have to sit back and let the action tell the story. Not just the 40 points to almost topple USA, but the actual buckets were so often poetry in motion and as everybody left the Arena when the curtain eventually came down on the tournament, there was only one talking point. Yes, THAT display.The best game: Saving the best until last...
Perhaps one of the reasons that the phenomenal and memorable 40-point effort of Salvadores was so captivating and dominant at this edition, was that it came within the context of the best game the competition had ever seen at that point. Having obliterated everyone in their way during their first six games, USA were expected to stroll to the gold medal.But, Salvadores had other ideas and was unstoppable. Completely unguardable and USA were almost made to pay the price. But credit in particular to center Lauren Cox who's excellent double-double in the title game of 20 points and 12 rebounds helped the champions to retain their crown.
African basketball history: Mali make a statement against Italy
Having made history two years earlier with their first victory in the competition and a first for African basketball, Mali managed to repeat the feat in 2014. They also racked up a significant first ever success against a European nation, with their nail-biting 46-44 win against Italy making people sit up and take notice. While low on quality and a defensively-dominated affair, it showed that Mali could punch hard on the global stage. And what about the heroic performance from Djeneba N'Diaye? She scored 25 of her team's points on a day she wil;l never forget.
The hidden star: Maria Conde - Spain
Recently named to the EuroLeague Women All-Star Five for 2021-22, Maria Conde is on fire right now and has manouvered herself into the position as the centerpiece of a Spanish national team in transition and looking to rebuild for this next cycle. However, back in 2014, the winger played a modest role in her team winning that silver medal .She was sixth in minutes played and the fifth top scorer.
A second hidden star: Sabrina Ionescu - USA
There was even a major future star relatively hidden on the USA roster too. In 2022, barely anyone who watches female hoops globally would fail to recognise Sabrina Ionescu who has been such a sensation in past years with her outstanding College career and WNBA entry, prior to the injury she has been coming back from. In Pilsen she was 7th in minutes and 8th in scoring for her team.
Stats leaders
Scorers
Player Points Per Game 19.9 18.6 15.6 15.3 14.4 Rebounds
Player Rebounds Per Game 13.4 12.0 11.4 9.0 8.4 Assists
Player Assists Per Game 4.1 3.8 3.4 3.4 3.0 3.0 -
The Best of FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2016
The 2016 edition of the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup was a historic one in Zaragoza, Spain as Australia claimed a maiden title and USA tasted their first ever loss.
There was also more magic from Mali to enjoy, but the headline story was one that made the entire female hoops world sit up and take notice. Meanwhile our wrap of the 2010 edition is HERE, the 2012 edition is HERE and the 2014 edition is HERE.
The best team: Australia show USA are not invincible in shock title success
With three titles under their belt and having not even lost a game, USA headed to Zaragoza as the red-hot favorittes to retain their crown. However, Australia proceeded to tear up that script with a superb maiden title that sent shockwaves around the women's basketball world.This was absolutely no fluke or shock. Superbly led by head coach Shannon Seebohm, the Sapphires were full value, dispensing USA in the Semi-Finals and then crushing Italy in a one-sided title game. Driven towards gold by Ezi Magbegor under the basket and some brilliance from the likes of Jaz Shelley, Jasmine Simmons and Monique Conti, they showcased some real dpeth on their roster.
The other major story was a historic run from Italy to the title game - something that was in stark contrast to their loss to Mali two years earlier.
Rank Team W-L 1. 6-0 2. Italy
5-2 3. 6-1 4. 4-3 5. 4-3 6. 5-2 7. 4-2 8. 2-5 9. Japan
4-2 10. Latvia
2-4 11. 3-4 12. Portugal
`1-5 13. Brazil
2-4 14. 1-6 15. 0-6
The best player: MVP Magbegor stands tall for the Sapphires
Ezi Magbegor had reason for a double celebration in Zaragoza after receiving the Most Valuable Player award.The center lit up the highlights reel throughout the tournament for first time champions Australia with her super athletic ability and shot blocking. She finished with averages of 12.5 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, shooting an excellent 55 percent from the floor.She was joined on the All-Star Five by her Sapphires team-mate Monique Conti who scored 18 points in the 62-38 Final success against Italy. There was also a place for do-it-all Australian captain Jasmine Simmons, who wrapped up her campaign with a special double-double of 14 points and 12 boards in the title game.
While disappointed not to have shone in the Final, there was some consolation for Italy forward Sara Madera who represented her nation with a berth after taking them to a historic silver. Meanwhile China center Xu Han sealed the last spot after demonstrating why she was viewed as one of the best prospects in Asia with a tournament double-double of more than 15 points and 10 boards per outing.
The best performance: Xu Han - China
A towering performance from the towering Han was pivotal to China grinding out a 55-51 Quarter-Finals success against Spain as the center broke home hearts. Now one of the most instantly recognisable ballers in the senior game, the China ace showed what was to come six years ago with a stellar 18 points and 18 rebounds in that game. She also had a fantastic five blocked shots too.
The best game: The Sapphires sink USA
This was an epic and not because it was necessarily a nail-biter, but because of what it signified. It was a Semi-Final contest for a start, with plenty on the line and the entire Arena and those watching from afar were aking - could a handy-looking Sapphires team really push USA close?Well, they did more than that of course as they took a famous 73-60 triumph that was paced brilliantly by an all-action display from Jaz Shelley who finished with 23 points, 8 reboiunds, 5 assists and 2 steals.
African basketball history: Mali continue their meteoric climb
Having made history with a first ever win in 2012 on their debut, then that famous success against Italy in 2014, it was more momentum and joy for Mali in Zaragoza. They showed the potential of African basketball on the global stage once more as they won three games, beating Brazil, Portugal and Mexico. It was quite a landmark and it could have been four victories as they only just lost out on beating Italy again. They also made friends with their spirit, attitude and warmth - as their relationship with Mexico attested.
The hidden star: Monica Okoye - Japan
An Olympic silver medalist last year at Tokyo 2020 and a FIBA Women's AsiaCup 2021 champion too, Okoye is right at the heart of her nation's climb skywards as one of the best female hoops nations on the planet. Her three-point shooting and ability to make clutch buckets have been vital. Yet back in 2016, she only scored 4 points per game and struggled to stand out. How things have changed for her!
Stats leaders
Scorers
Player Points Per Game 16.5 15.7 15.6 15.0 13.9 Rebounds
Player Rebounds Per Game 13.0 10.7 10.6 10.1 Patricia Ayala
9.9 Assists
Player Assists Per Game 5.0 5.0 4.2 4.2 4.1 -
The Best of FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2018
The 2018 edition of the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup saw USA regain the crown having had a shock bronze in 2016, while several rising stars made people sit up and take notice.
The best team: USA recapture their crown after 2016 setback
It was a long two years for USA Basketball as they tried to show the patience needed to tick off the time until they could put right the disappointment of 2016 when they exited in the Semi-Finals. Having taken gold in 2010, 2012 and 2014, it was a case of normal service resumed as they climbed back to the top of the podium in style, rounding out an unebeaten tournament with a devastating 92-40 victory against France in the Final.Rank Team W-L 1. 7-0 2. France
6-1 3. Australia
6-1 4. Hungary
5-2 5. Italy
5-2 6. 3-4 7. Japan
4-3 8. Latvia
2-5 9. 5-2 10. Mali
2-5 11. 3-4 12. New Zealand
`1-6 13. 4-3 14. Columbia
1-6 15. Belarus
2-5 16. Angola
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The best player: Horston helps USA get back on top
It was a double celebration for Horston as she added to her gold medal with the MVP accolade having been a driving force for the champions with an all-action average of 10.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 3.4 steals per game. She was joined by USA team-mates Haley Jones and Aliyah Boston with Australia's Shyla Heal and Iliana Rupert of France completing the lineup.
Rupert (France), Jones (USA), Horston (USA, Heal ( Australia) and Boston (USA)
Boston was USA's leading scorer in the Final with 16 points and put up 11.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game in the tournament, while Jones averaged 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest.
Rupert was held scoreless in France's Final defeat against USA, but still had a strong tournament with 10.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Heal was ranked second among all players in scoring with 16.0 points per game to go along with 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game.
The best performance: Maria Camila Alvarez - Columbia
While there were arguably some performances just as big in the latter stages of the competition during crunch time, we just can't overlook this epic from Alvarez who caught fire in a big way for Columbia. It's not often in the international game that somebody reaches double-digits for three-point shots, but she sunk 10 of them en-route to 35 points against Belarus. Although it was bitter-sweet since her team lost 79-75 in overtime.
The best game: Heal and Sapphires comeback for bronze
This might not seem like a rational pick for the game of the tournament as both teams barely made it past the 50 point mark, but it was such an intense struggle for the bronze medal. Australia had to come back from a very tough situation and posted a huge 26-14 last period to take a 57-51 success against their Hungarian opponents, led by 16 points from their leader, Shyla Heal.The best prospect: Rupert shows what's to come for France
While everyone in France already had Rupert on radar central and even those followers of the European game, the Belarusian capital was where the center announced her arrival on the global stage. She catapulted France to the Final and was absolutely immense throughout, but especially in the Semi-Finals with a super performance. Fast forward just four years and she is a centerpiece of the senior national team already.The hidden star: Shuyu Yang - China
With just 5 points per game in Minsk, there was no sign that Wang would become one of China's most popular ballers within the next three year period and attract 8 million followers on Chinese social media Sina Weibo and Douyin (a Tik Tok offshoot) platforms. That was because she propelled her nation to a historic 3x3 bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games last year.
Stats leaders
Scorers
Player Points Per Game 16.9 16.0 Sofia Acevedo
15.7 Charlisse Leger-Walker
15.1 14.4 Rebounds
Player Rebounds Per Game 13.1 10.9 10.6 9.0 8.8 Assists
Player Assists Per Game 6.6 5.1 4.9 4.7 4.7 Yuliya Vasilevich
4.7