SHENZHEN (China) - China vs. Australia might not have the decades-long track record in the competition of some other Asia Cup matchups, but in just a few tournaments, it’s become one of the most anticipated clashes in women's basketball across the region.
They've met three times since Australia's debut in 2017 - and China has won all three, including two critical knockouts. The most recent came in the 2023 Semi-Finals, where China's size and execution proved too much in a 74–60 win. Four years earlier, in 2019, it was a one-point heartbreaker. China edged the Opals 70–69 in a group phase thriller - highlighted by a Shao Ting spin special - showing they could outlast even the deepest of rosters.
The rivalry beyond Asia
The stakes between these two nations stretch well beyond the Asia Cup. In total, China and Australia have met 17 times in major FIBA competitions - including the Women's Basketball World Cup, Olympics, and Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Australia once had a firm grip on the rivalry, winning five straight from 2002 to 2018. That stretch included massive wins in global knockout games - the 2002 World Cup, the 2008 Olympic Semi-Finals, and the 2012 Olympic Quarter-Finals.
But since 2019, the tide has turned. China has won every meeting since - from the Tokyo Olympics to back-to-back Asia Cup showdowns, and even the 2022 Women's World Cup Semi-Finals - a game that saw nearly 12,000 fans in attendance.
China rising, Australia regrouping
China’s current core, led by a new generation of stars between Han Xu, Li Yueru, and Li Meng, has matched Australia’s trademark toughness with composure and execution. Their wins haven’t just been about individual brilliance - they’ve been team-driven, balanced, and patient.
That's why China are 4th in the FIBA World Ranking Women.
Australia, meanwhile, remains a global contender at 2nd in the FIBA World Ranking Women, but in this particular matchup, they now find themselves in unfamiliar territory - as the team looking to break a losing streak.
There’s no guarantee they’ll meet again in 2025 with China placed in Group A and Australia in Group B. But if they do, it could decide who makes the Final - or who takes home the trophy.
One thing is certain: this rivalry is no longer about the past. It’s about control of the present. And right now, that edge belongs to China.
FIBA