MIES (Switzerland) - A whirlwind week of FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments is done and dusted, with the 16-team field complete for Germany.
There were some surprising results.
# | Winning Team | Losing Team | Result | Differential |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Philippines (No. 39) | Colombia (No. 19) | - 20 | |
2 | Argentina (No. 27) | Türkiye (No. 16) | -9 | |
- | Hungary (No. 20) | Japan (No. 11) | -9 | |
- | Türkiye (No. 16) | Canada (No. 7) | -9 | |
5 | Czechia (No. 17) | Brazil (No. 9) | -8 | |
- | Italy (No. 14) | Spain (No. 6) | -8 | |
7 | Korea (No. 15) | Nigeria (No. 8) | -7 | |
8 | Türkiye (No. 16) | Japan (No. 11) | -5 | |
9 | Hungary (No. 20) | Türkiye (No. 16) | -4 | |
- | Germany (No. 12) | Nigeria (No. 8) | -4 | |
- | Senegal (No. 25) | New Zealand (No. 21) | -4 | |
- | Japan (No. 11) | Canada (No. 7) | -4 |
Here’s a look at them, ranked by differential in the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by NIKE, based on the rankings before the tournaments got underway.
Philippines (#39) 74-59 Colombia (#19)
The Colombians were their own worst enemy when they scored just two points during a five minute stretch that began late in the third quarter. Gilas Pilipinas Women took advantage, with a Sumayah Sugapong three-ball triggering a 11-2 run that the South Americans never recovered from. Sugapong had 21 points while Kacey Dela Rosa led the way with 25 points, including six in that decisive stretch early in the fourth quarter.
Argentina (#27) 59-55 Türkiye (#16)
Melissa Gretter and Co pulled off a major upset, especially with Türkiye at home and being roared on by their crowd inside the friendly confines of the Turkish Basketball Development Center. Veteran point guard Gretter was spectacular, finishing with 18 points, 9 assists and 6 rebounds. Julieta Mungo, the team's biggest three-point threat, made two free-throws with 9.8 seconds remaining and after a timeout, Türkiye turned the ball over.
Hungary (#20) 77-65 Japan (#11)
Japan began well, opening up a 19-11 lead midway through the first quarter but Dorka Juhasz took matters into her own hands. She was breathtaking, making play after play, shot after shot on her way to a career best in the Hungary shirt of 35 points - the highest tally of any player at the event this year. Her turnaround, fadeway jumpshot was so good that jaws dropped! Juhasz also had 9 rebounds while both Reka Lelik and Yvonne Turner were outstanding, combing for 17 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
Türkiye (#16) 71-69 Canada (#7)
The hosts started fast on opening night but then had to hold on for dear life to beat Canada, who fought back from a 19-point deficit and took the lead with 3:21 left. The hosts went in front to stay when captain Olcay Cakir Turgut scored with a tough left-handed layup with just over a minute to play for a 71-69 Türkiye advantage. Canada ended up with three shots in the final 17 seconds but missed them and failed to avoid the upset that ultimately undermined their bid to qualify for Berlin.
Czechia (#17) 84-65 Brazil (#9)
The Czechs got their biggest and most important win of the event in Wuhan after breaking opening a close game in the third quarter, when they held Brazil scoreless for the first 5:16 of the frame. Kamilla Cardoso's unsportsmanlike foul on Julia Reisingerova seemed to ignite the Czech team in the decisive frame. Veronika Vorackova (17 points) and Petra Holesinska (4 three-pointers, 16 points) led the Czech offense.
Italy (#14) 68-56 Spain (#6)
This was the game the Azzurre wanted badly in Puerto Rico, an opportunity to build on the third place finish at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 in Piraeus. Coming off a 93-59 beatdown by USA, the Italians turned up the heat on defense and had 13 steals, and 20 points off turnovers. Jasmine Keys had 4 of those steals and Mariella Santucci 3. Italy also got to the free-line, where they scored 17 points. Italy took the lead for good midway through the third quarter. Cecilia Zandalasini had 22 points and Lorela Cubaj was huge with 9 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. When Italy win, success owes most to this team's intensity on the court and particularly the defense.
Korea (#15) 77-60 Nigeria (#8)
Korea were desperate for a better performance after a 76-49 drubbing by Germany and they got it against the five-time defending champions of Africa. Nigeria had a bright start and led 16-12, only for a jump shot by Park Jisu and a 3-pointer from Park Jihyun, who led the team with 22 points, to put the Koreans in front for good. Kang Leeseul also weighed in with 20 for the winners, who prevailed despite being out-rebounded 48-33. Korea's defensive pressure led to many of Nigeria's 22 turnovers, with the winners pouring in 22 points off those miscues.
Türkiye (#16) 75-67 Japan (#11)
Day three in Istanbul was crucial for Türkiye after their shock home defeat to Argentina and the hosts did very well to escape with a win. Down 41-35 at half-time, Kennedy Burke led the comeback with a couple of 3-pointers that gave Türkiye a 44-41 lead. The hosts took the lead for good when Sevgi Uzun drilled a 3-pointer later in the third quarter for a 52-50 advantage.
Hungary (#20) 89-74 Türkiye (#16)
After starting the tournament with a bang in a win over Japan, Hungary signed off with an even louder one against Türkiye and clinched a spot in the World Cup for the first time since 1998. It was do or die. Win and they were in, lose and they were out. Dorka Juhasz didn't match her career-high 35 points from the win over Japan yet did have 24 and also 9 rebounds. With Japan's win over Argentina earlier in the day ensuring Türkiye's spot in Berlin, the sense of desperation wasn't in their play yet it was evident in Hungary's. Coach Peter Volgyi has an experienced core of players - captain Virag Takacs-Kiss, Reka Lelik, Nina Aho, Reka Dombai and Yvonne Turner - with EuroLeague Women experience. Every single member of the team seized the day, with Hungary taking the lead early in the second quarter and never turning back.
Germany (#12) 81-73 Nigeria (#8)
The World Cup hosts piled on the frustration for Nigeria on Game Day 5, taking the lead for good late in the third quarter. Five German players finished in double figures scoring, and the team also excelled in the open floor with 19 fast-break points. Germany capitalized on the opponents' miscues with 18 points off their turnovers. The World Cup hosts showed at the Olympics in their wins over Belgium and Japan that they can beat the some of the best teams in international basketball and the victory over Nigeria will serve as another confidence booster before they stage September's big event.
Senegal (#25) 61-45 New Zealand (#21)
The Lionesses were in good form against the Tall Ferns, leading for the majority of the contest and going in front by 21 points late in the third quarter. Their impressive 9 of 21 (42.9 percent) shooting from deep made life very difficult for the New Zealand defense, with Yacine Diop's three makes from four attempts best of all. One of her three-balls with 6:39 left in the third quarter capped a 7-0 run that left Senegal on top, 36-27, and New Zealand were on the back foot the rest of the way.
Japan (#11) 66-62 Canada (#7)
The Japanese were in a do-or-die situation in their penultimate game, with no wins from their first three contests. Not only did they survive against the Canadians with but crucially won by 4 points, which meant Hungary's game against Türkiye on the final night would not impact them. All they would need was an Australia win over Canada, and the Opals barely accomplished that. In the win over Canada, Mai Yamamoto took center stage with 16 points and Aika Hirashita, whom coach Corey Gaines calls "Lulu", contributed 12. Canada threatened to overtake Japan late when they closed the gap to 61-60 after a Shay Colley layup, but Norika Konno answered with a drive and a 3-pointer and Japan held on. Canada had 26 offensive rebounds to Japan's 13, yet the Japanese had 15 second chance points to the Candians' 14.
FIBA