MIES (Switzerland) - The 2022 edition of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup was one to remember with countless storylines, some great basketball, huge attendances and unprecedented digital engagement.
With so many things to reflect on, we've put together a very best of 2022 compilation.
Top of the podium: Four in a row for USA
USA completed an 83-61 victory against China to secure their fourth consecutive World Cup crown. They had too much depth and quality for a China team that received unbelievable support in Sydney.
It was forward A'ja Wilson who excelled for the champions with a superb show, while backcourt duo Kelsey Plum and Chelsea Gray starred too. The former adding 17 points, with Gray posting an all-action 10 points, 8 assists and 3 steals.
Yueru Li did her best for China with 19 points and 12 boards in defeat as they matched their previous best finish with a silver medal.
Final Standings
Rank | Team | W-L |
1. | USA | 8-0 |
2. | China | 6-2 |
3. | Australia | 6-2 |
4. | Canada | 5-3 |
5. | Belgium | 3-3 |
6. | Serbia | 3-3 |
7. | France | 3-3 |
8. | Puerto Rico | 2-4 |
9. | Japan | 1-4 |
10. | Korea | 1-4 |
11. | Mali | 0-5 |
12. | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0-5 |
Meet the MVP: A'ja Wilson (USA)
It was a double celebration for Wilson after being crowned TISSOT MVP. She was unstoppable at times, finishing with an outstanding average performance efficiency valuation of 24.5. That came from incredible 66 percent floor shooting which returned 17.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Wilson was joined in the All-Star Five by USA colleague Breanna Stewart, who was the MVP of the 2018 edition in Tenerife. She averaged 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
China's towering center Xu Han impressed with 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. Opals' guard Steph Talbot had a highly prductive 8.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.3 assists per outing across the competition, with Canada's Bridget Carleton taking the last spot after racking up 12.8 points. 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.
A record-breaking show
The tournament broke all previous records for coverage - both in terms of attendances, digital engagement and broadcast reach. In short, it was a runway success.
The official website had 1.5 million fans visit, representing "close to a 100% increase," almost doubling the peak audience from the 2018 event in Tenerife. It also generated 1.1 billion impressions and 14 million engagements across global social platforms, five times more than in 2018, as well as 500 million video views, seven times more compared to the previous World Cup.
Viewership tripled in the US with major sports network ESPN serving as the broadcast partner in both countries. In another key market in China, the total audience reach exceeded 750 million across the tournament on state-run broadcaster CCTV and digital giant Tencent. The final between China and USA was watched by over 18 million viewers on the CCTV-5 channel in China, with another 23 million video views generated on Tencent. Meanwhile a total of 145,000 spectators also meant the 2022 Women's World Cup had the highest attendance in the competition’s history.
The fairytale return of the legendary LJ
Opals' legend Lauren Jackson posted a fairytale ending to her career as her stellar 30 points took Australia past Canada 95-65 in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Third Place Game Beyond special and like something from a Hollywood movie script, she ensured hosts Australia took bronze and she also did it while equalling the All-Time number of appearances in the competition.
This was Jackson's 43rd FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup game and her fifth edition, having last played way back in 2010. Could anyone have imagined a better scenario for the last dance of a true basketball legend? Her 30-points were the first time she has passed the 20-point mark for 16 years at the 2006 edition, when the Opals claimed their historic title.
Puerto Rico are the history-makers
It was a sensational first ever global win for the Islanders in Sydney having lost all three games on debut in 2018 and also coming up winless in their first Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020.
It was truly a special landmark moment as they beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, eventually adding even more satisfaction to their accomplishment by also beating Korea to reach the Quarter-Finals.
The hidden star: Mai Yamamoto (Japan)
Even if Yamamoto was a rising star after her Olympic 3x3 exploits in Tokyo the year before, she posted only a modest 2.0 points per game in Sydney.
Now four years later, she is Japan's leading light heading to Berlin having been named to the All-Star Five at the Qualifying Tournament earlier this year. That follows All-Star Five status at FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 and being named MVP of the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament 2024.
Stats leaders
Scorers
Player | Points Per Game |
Arella Guirantes (PUR) | 18.2 |
Leeseul Kang (KOR) | 17.2 |
A'ja Wilson (USA) | 17.2 |
Meng Li (CHN) | 16.0 |
Kelsey Plum (USA) | 15.8 |
Gabby Wiliams (FRA) | 15.8 |
Rebounds
Player | Rebounds Per Game |
Sika Kone (MLI) | 11.8 |
Kayla Alexander (CAN) | 9.6 |
Jonquel Jones (BIH) | 8.8 |
Emma Meesseman (BEL) | 8.5 |
Xu Han (CHN) | 8.4 |
Assists
Player | Assists Per Game |
Yvonne Anderson (SRB) | 6.5 |
Emma Meesseman (BEL) | 6.3 |
Julie Allemand (BEL) | 6.3 |
Steph Talbot (AUS) | 5.3 |
Chelsea Gray (USA) | 5.3 |
FIBA