SEREMBAN (Malaysia) - Australia extended their reign as FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup-Division A champions by escaping Japan, 83-82, in the Final of the 2026 competitions on Saturday night at the Karisma Arena.
Madison Ryan led the Gems with 17 points and 17 rebounds, coming through in the clutch by banking in the go-ahead basket off an Olivia Olechnowicz inbound with nine-tenths of a second left to erase the 81-82 deficit.
Isabel Smith finished with 16 points, Olechnowicz supplied 15 points, while Jemyma Manyok added 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 blocks as they all helped out to wrest control of the game after a slow start.
Australia have become just the third team in competition history to win a 'three-peat' after Korea and China, who were the last to accomplish as much during their reign of dominance from 2010 to 2018.
"It was really important for me that we try to win this game because it will be the last Asia Cup for some of these girls," offered head coach Kristi Harrower. "So, I wanted to make sure that they won today."
Miya Takeuchi led Japan with 25 points and 6 assists. Takeuchi led the fightback from 15 points down by scoring 18 of her points in the fourth quarter, including the three-pointer for the 82-81 lead with 3.7 seconds left.
Takeuchi eventually earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, thus headlining the All-Star Five which also features the Gems tandem of Ryan and Smith, China's Sun Hanyun, and Lim Yeonseo of Korea.
Riko Katsube made 12 points, while Marin Koike added 12 points for Japan, who took home their first silver medal since 2018 after settling for a runner-up finish behind China, the event's only 16-time champions.
Meanwhile, China salvaged a third-place finish in this year's edition by topping Korea, 106-69, in the Third-Place Game. Li Yuanshan and Sun carried China in the dominant win, finishing with 35 and 32 points, respectively.
Australia, Japan, China, Korea, and Chinese Taipei will represent the continent in the prestigious FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2027, set on July 17-25, 2027 in the city of Chengdu in China.
FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2026-Division A final standings:
1. Australia 2. Japan 3. China 4. Korea 5. Chinese Taipei 6. Philippines 7. New Zealand 8. Malaysia
FIBA