BRNO (Czechia) - With the group phase and the Round of 16 now in the books, the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025 is entering crunch time as the top eight teams continue their dreams of making the podium.
We have taken stock of who looks like they could be getting their hands on a medal and the coveted silverware, while also keeping one eye on the importance of pride in the 9-15 Classification Games.
Here is Volume 2 of the Smart Power Rankings.
15. Argentina ⏸️
With far more turnovers than any other nation in the competition and also struggling to keep the scoreboard moving, it's been an uphill battle for Argentina. In mitigation they are missing a couple of influential stars.
But still, the manner of the losses so far have been alarming and they'll want to turn a page heading into the Classification Games. They can't just rely on Nerea Lagowski and also need their perimeter game to come alive.
14. Nigeria⬆️2️⃣
It might be seen as a bit too much to bounce Nigeria up two whole spots, but they did shock China on opening day and get a historic first ever win. They have also since shown they can be dangrous in spells, it's just too infrequent.
They need to focus on putting together a 40-minute performance as they did in their first game. That is also reflected in the fact no players have been able to show the consistency required at this global level of competition.
13. China ⬇️6️⃣
Still winless and a shadow of the team that rode their way to the Final of the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup 2024, they just can't cope without last year's TISSOT MVP Zhang Ziyu.
Without her towering presence on the floor due to FIBA Asia Cup 2025 duties, China have struggled. At least the emergence of Kajia Ran has been a ray of sunshine poking through this grey basketball cloud in Brno.
12. Korea ⬆️2️⃣
You have to respect the phenomenal effort that Korea put into their Round of 16 tie with Canada. Their disruptive defensive strategy meant for periods they looked like they might even pull of an epic upset - only to be edged out.
If they can maintain this level of play for the remaining days, they will get at least one win on their record surely. It's just whether they can deliver offensively with two or three scorers - rather than one stand out contributor.
11. Brazil ⬆️1️⃣
It's been a challenging tournament for Brazil who might now find they can get over the line and get themselves a confidence-boosting win in the Classification Games. Playing France and Australia in the first phase was rough.
They then found Japan too much, but can get rolling now. They need Ayla McDowell to turn up the dial in efficiency. As closely guarded as she is by defenders, her team needs her to play smart and in turn, they must support her too.
10. Czechia ⏸️
It was a tough experience for Czechia to be locked down so brutally in the Round of 16 and not even break 32 points against France. Now it will be a big test of character as they try to restore confidence and get back on track.
It was probably always destined to be tough and making the Quarter-Finals looked a long-shot - as their pre-tournament ranking of 10 would testify. Outside of Emilie Brzonova, there has not been enough of a scoring touch.
9. Israel ⬇️3️⃣
It was always going to be a tight one for Israel and they lost a couple of tear-jerkers in crunch time - as well as winning a close one to make history and claiming their maiden win. Gal Raviv has been as incredible as hoped.
But there have also been nice cameos from Ayala Oren and Maayan Cohen too. The three-point shooting has been devastating at times from Israel but lacking in height and transition scores, they ended up being one-dimensonal.
8. Japan ⏸️
Hit hard by the loss of their free-scoring leader Kokora Tanaka who was called up to FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 with the senior team, they have gradually found a way to adjust. Mostly this has come from their epic intensity.
While they have also crowned a new leader of the team in Otoha Goto who impressed at U17 Worlds last year and is doing the same now. The team now needs to be more consistent ith their trademark shooting from downtown.
7. Portugal ⬆️4️⃣
Having already become the first Portugal team to ever make the Quarter-Finals of a global FIBA tournament, these players have written themselves in their nation's history-books. Clara Silva has rightly caputured the headlines.
The center has been phenomenal - but this has been a super team effort too, with key contributions from the likes of Ema Karim and Rita Nazario. They have a Quarter-Finals derby with Spain next and could this fairytale continue?
6. Hungary⬆️7️⃣
It's a huge move up for Hungary - mainly because they came out on top in that coin-toss encoutner against Israel in the group phase. That is to their credit and they avoided a Round of 16 slip-up against underdogs Nigeria too.
They have played really solid basketball, helped by the height of Kinga Josepovits in the paint and some assured play by Eszter Ratkai. They also share the ball nicely as a team - but will it be enough to land in the top four?
5. France ⬇️3️⃣
Did France press the self-destruct button in their crunch group game with Australia? They looked like they lost their heads, showing no composure at the basket and missing 20-30 layups or putbacks. Alongside double-digit missed free-throws, and failing to adapt or react within the game, they're now set to face USA in the Quarter-Finals.
This feasibly means a liklihood of 5th place instead of making the showpiece Final as they had been tipped to do. That is tough on Nell Angloma and Sarah Cisse who have both played very well. But that game with the Gems will haunt them for some time.
Although they do have the physicality and talent to upset USA and its not impossible.
4. Spain⬆️1️⃣
While much has been made about this Spanish team not being as talented or having the standout ballers they had at the last edition as hosts in Madrid when they almost won the title, they have a shot at the podium again. It might end up being bronze and if things go as expected on paper, they could grab the last step - or just fall short.
They have played with the typical intensity on defense that is part of Spanish basketball DNA and there are a number of ballers who have all went about their business in impressive fashion without putting up huge numbers. So watch this space - could collective teamwork eventually trump nations with more standout stars?
3. Australia ⬆️1️⃣
Missing two headline names coming into this competition, the Gems were always capable of doing something productive and challenging for the podium. Now they might land on it after staying unbeaten and avoiding USA in the Quarter-Finals by beating France. In volume one we said ballers would come out of the pack and it's happened.
There have been so many postive displays from a range of different players to showcase their depth of options. Australia have worked hard off the ball and on defense, run some nice stuff in the half-court and will be a tough cookie to break down. But who will be their go-to in the clutch when things get super serious down the stretch?
2. Canada ⬆️1️⃣
After they labored unexpectedly against Korea - is this ranking a bit too generous on Canada? Perhaps, although they were devastating in the Group Stage as they broke their own record points tally - as well as proudly becoming the first team in U19 history (women or men) to drop 20 triples in a game.
With Syla Swords leading the way, Avery Howell and Agot Makeer shining and the team making it rain from long-range, they can surely make a run to appear in Sunday's showpiece Final. But they will have to turn up the dial again and take some learnings from their Round of 16 matchup when they didn't look that impressive at all.
1. USA ⏸️
Still the team to beat and having extended their awesome winning streak to tie the all-time record at 25, next in line is a brand new historical high winning streak of 26 games. That comes off the back of recording the highest ever winning points total in the group stage.
Throw in Jazzy Davidson becoming the first USA baller to ever hit a performance efficiency valuation of 40 in the competition and breaking records has become the norm. With Lauren Betts looking a colossus in the paint, Saniyah Hall emerging from the pack as an influential player, it's going to take something seriously special to stop them.
Disclaimer: The Smart Power Ranking is not an official statement from FIBA. It is created solely to enhance the experience of the fans following the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2025.
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