Best of 2010: Meesseman, Li and Stewart step out for first edition of FIBA U17 Worlds

10/04/2024

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Best of 2010: Meesseman, Li and Stewart step out for first edition of FIBA U17 Worlds

MIES (Switzerland) - The first FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup was launched in France during 2010 and there were plenty of today's superstars taking their maiden steps on the global women's stage.

We've pushed the rewind button to the inaugural edition of the competition. Here's all you know about how things unfolded 14 years ago in Rodez and Toulouse.

Top of the podium: 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

Meet the MVP: Meng Li (China)

China won the bronze medal by showcasing Meng Li's dynamic and skillful wing play, which she has continued to demonstrate at the senior level. As a leading player for China, she exemplified her leadership abilities in France, averaging 15.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game. As a result, she was awarded the MVP title for this tournament.

Five star entertainment: Japan vs Australia

After both teams lost in the Quarter-Finals, they could have easily felt disheartened. However, they demonstrated the significance of the battle for 5th place by delivering an exhilarating shootout that saw Japan emerge victorious with a remarkable score of 95-92.

Australia's Gretel Tippett faced a difficult loss despite her impressive performance of 34 points and 16 rebounds. Japan, on the other hand, proved to be a strong opponent by successfully shooting 13 three-pointers. The Japanese team also showcased the talents of two rising stars, with Yuki Miyazawa contributing an outstanding 30 points, while Moeko Nagaoka added 23 points to their team's score.

On absolute fire: Olivia Epoupa (France)

Gretel Tippett of Australia might claim to have had the best performance in the competition, but Epoupa's display was truly remarkable, especially considering it happened during the Semi-Finals. Despite being the shortest player on the court, the energetic guard delivered an incredible and dominant performance for the host country, leading France to a 59-49 victory in a significant derby against Belgium.

Epoupa provided an exciting preview of things to come, showcasing her remarkable skills through an impressive double-double. She scored 18 points and secured 11 rebounds, while also contributing 5 assists and 3 steals.

Early superstar steps: Breanna Stewart (USA)

Introducing herself to the world stage, Stewart made her initial impact as the second youngest player on the USA roster. Stats of 12.8 points, 57.1% shooting, and 7.4 rebounds per game solidified her presence among fans. Since then, her trajectory has skyrocketed, making her arguably the most talented and widely recognized star in women's basketball. With an impressive collection of titles and medals for both her club and country, she has checked off almost every achievement, becoming a true global icon for female basketball.

Legend in the making: Emma Meesseman (Belgium)

Anyone who witnessed Meesseman's skills during her youth knew that she was destined to become one of the finest players in her field. Her journey has been nothing short of a fairytale. As a forward for the Belgian Cats, she has been an absolute powerhouse, leading her team to numerous historic milestones.

These include securing the team's first-ever FIBA Women's EuroBasket medal, their inaugural appearance in the Olympic Games, their first participation in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, and, of course, their triumphant victory in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket last year. In each of these instances, it was Meesseman's remarkable statistics and outstanding performances that propelled the team towards such remarkable achievements.

In Rodez and Toulouse she averaged a near tournament double-double of 14.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Some 14 years later and she is already a bonafide Belgian basketball legend and some would say one of the greatest of her generation.

A hidden star: Steph Talbot

Talbot barely registered on the Sapphires' radar and yet has since went on to become a double Olympian and step out at two editions of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup - including winning bronze on home soil at Sydney 2022. In Rodez and Toulouse she averaged a modest 3.5 points per game.