&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;SWEET 16 ! 🍬&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h2&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;MIES (Switzerland) - The 16 countries to play in the four FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments in February make for a mouthwatering buildup to the main event itself.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;So what can we expect from the national teams set to battle it out in a bid to be one of the 12 to play in Sydney 2022? We've got you covered. &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇦🇺 Australia&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Opals are automatically in the 12-team World Cup as hosts yet nevertheless will take part in one of the four qualifying tournaments, which presents an opportunity for players to stake claims for spots in the team. One lock for the World Cup squad surely must be Ezi MacBegor, the 22-year-old center. Perhaps up-and-coming point guard Shyla Heal gets her big chance, while several others that played at the FIBA Asia Cup deserve a long look.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇧🇾 Belarus&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;One of the big surprises of the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 with a fourth-place finish, Belarus will need another another all-star performance from high-scoring guard Alexandria Bentley and dominant play from bigs Anastasiya Verameyenka and Viktoryia Hasper if they are to reach the Women's World Cup for third time in the last four editions.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇧🇪 Belgium&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Emma Meesseman - the best player ever to suit up for the Cats - had an unworldly 37.0 efficiency stat at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where Belgium came within a made jump shot at the buzzer of beating Japan and competing for a medal. The team has plenty of talent with Julie Allemand, Kim Mestdagh, Antonia Delaere and Kyara Lynskens. But with coach Philip Mestdagh having parted ways after six impressive years and his successor yet to be revealed, will Belgium improve, remain at the same level, or regress?&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;At No. 27 in the FIBA World Ranking for Women - the 18th highest ranked team in Europe - Bosnia and Herzegovina could be viewed as underdogs yet they have Jonquel Jones and the naturalized player from America just happens to be one of the best players in the sport. An &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womenseurobasket/2021/news/sonja-vasic-crowned-tissot-mvp-headlines-all-star-five-in-valencia" data-mce-href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womenseurobasket/2021/news/sonja-vasic-crowned-tissot-mvp-headlines-all-star-five-in-valencia"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;All-Star Five selection at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;, where the Balkan team thumped Belgium by 15 points on opening day and finished fifth at the event, Connecticut Sun forward Jones was also just named MVP of the WNBA.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇧🇷 Brazil&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Twenty-year-old center Kamilla Cardoso was the player with a team-high 16.1 efficiency in the Third-Place Game-winning Brazil team at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup but she is playing college basketball at South Carolina and it remains to be seen if she will be available. Erika de Souza - one of the all-time great Brazil bigs - continues to score and rebound but turns 40 in March. The country that won the World Cup in 1994 (notably also played in Australia) will definitely have experience and firepower in Clarissa Dos Santos, Taina Paixao, Thayna Silva and Patty Teixeira.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇨🇦 Canada&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The talent is there for Canada with players like Bridget Carleton, Kia Nurse and Natalie Achonwa, just to name a few, but can this country which will have a replacement for long-time coach Lisa Thomaidis come up with a style of play that gets it into the fight for the medals? &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇨🇳 China&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;China will need a little while to recover from the disappointment of a &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensasiacup/2021/news/japan-claim-fifth-fiba-women-s-asia-cup-title-in-a-row-after-epic-final-in-amman" data-mce-href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensasiacup/2021/news/japan-claim-fifth-fiba-women-s-asia-cup-title-in-a-row-after-epic-final-in-amman"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;runners-up finish at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup in Jordan&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;, where they appeared poised to end Japan's streak of titles but lost in the title game, 78-73. Don't bet against China making it to the World Cup, with centers Li Yueru and Han Xu giving the team size, skill and intimidation. And there's Huang Sijing. A threat from deep, Sijing plays the stretch four position impeccably, making 50 percent of her attempts in the Asia Cup. Coach Limin's team came in fifth at the Olympics.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇫🇷 France&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Always a team in the fight for medals, France will have a new coach as they look to build on the success of Valeri Garnier. Les Bleues go into the Women's World Cup qualifying after a summer that saw the team finish runners-up at the FIBA EuroBasket Women, and third at the Olympics. Gabby Williams, Iliana Rupert and the two Marines - Johanness and Fathoux - should have prominent roles.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇯🇵 Japan&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;A selection headache may await new head coach Toru Onzuka, whose first tournament in charge was an unmitigated success this past week in Amman, Jordan. Fueled by point guard Saori Miyazaki's 26 points and 11 assists, Japan defeated China in the Final of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup for a fifth consecutive title in the competition. Japan had two other point guard sensations - Rui Machida and Nako Motohashi - at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where they captured a silver medal. Another Olympic star that played in Jordan, Himawari Akaho, was named MVP of the event.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇰🇷 Korea&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;It's incredible to think that Park Ji Su is 22 yet has already played at two World Cups, in 2014 and 2018, and this year's Olympic Games. With Korea losing a couple of tough games at the Olympics in their three outings, to Spain and Serbia, many from the squad from Tokyo remain for the Women's World Cup.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇲🇱 Mali&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Runners-up at the&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensafrobasket/2021" data-mce-href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensafrobasket/2021"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2021&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;, Mali are young, athletic and full of vim and vigor. The team's average age at the tournament was 23, with Mariam Coulibaly leading nearly averaging a double double in points and rebounds.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇳🇬 Nigeria&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Confidence will not be in short supply for Nigeria, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensafrobasket/2021/news/nigeria-claim-threepeat-pick-up-womens-afrobasket-2021-crown" data-mce-href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensafrobasket/2021/news/nigeria-claim-threepeat-pick-up-womens-afrobasket-2021-crown"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;winners of three straight FIBA Women's AfroBaskets&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; and just a year removed from a successful appearance at the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade. Nigeria's strength is their pressure defense, led by fiery point guard Ezinne Kalu, while veteran forward Adaora Elonu is always ready to make big, important plays.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇵🇷 Puerto Rico&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Boricuas have been on a roll, playing in Tenerife at the last Women's World Cup, finishing runners-up as hosts of the &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensamericup/2021" data-mce-href="http://www.fiba.basketball/womensamericup/2021"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;FIBA Women's AmeriCup&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; in June and then competing at the Olympics. Puerto Rico, whose star player is 28-year-old Jazmon Gwathmey, will be overmatched against some opponents but this national team is getting from recent experience and will have a fighting chance to reach Sydney.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇷🇺 Russia&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;A sixth-place finish at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket must have felt like a championship win because Russia stayed in the hunt for a spot to the Women's World Cup, which they haven't played in since 2010. Maria Vadeeva, Raisa Musina, Kseniia Levchenko and Nina Glonti were outstanding this summer and will give Russia an excellent chance of reaching Sydney.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇷🇸 Serbia&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The Sonja Vasic, Jelena Brooks era of Serbian basketball ended this year after the duo led country to the FIBA Women's EuroBasket crown and a fourth-place finish at the Olympics. There remains plenty of talent, savvy and smarts in the Balkan team, however, with the likes of 25-year-old power forward Aleksandra Crvendakic set to become more of a leader and youngsters Angela Dugalic and Masa Jankovic ready for substantial minutes.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;🇺🇸 USA&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/h3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p style="text-align: justify;" data-mce-style="text-align: justify;"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The USA haven't lost a game at the Women's World Cup since Russia beat them in the Semi-Finals in 2006 and their unbeaten Olympic campaign suggests good times will be had in Sydney. Already with a spot secured in the tournament thanks to their&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.fiba.basketball/olympics/women/2020/news/usa-women’s-basketball-capture-seventh-straight-olympic-gold-with-win-over-japan-as-france-claim-bronze" data-mce-href="http://www.fiba.basketball/olympics/women/2020/news/usa-women’s-basketball-capture-seventh-straight-olympic-gold-with-win-over-japan-as-france-claim-bronze"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; gold medal at the Tokyo Games&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;, the Americans will still take part in the qualifiers and there will be a new coach to succeed Dawn Staley. Yet a lot of firepower returns, including Breanna Stewart - the MVP of the last World Cup - and Olympic star A'ja Wilson.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/section&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Meet the sweet sixteen of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments