BERLIN (Germany) - Saki Hayashi and Japan wrote themselves into the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup record books after they set new all-time individual and team highs for three-pointers in the competition.
Riding their way to a thrilling 102-97 success against Mali, it was the distinctive shooting style of Hayashi that caught the eye as the guard lit it up from long-range.
She netted a breathtaking nine triples to surpass the previous record of eight. Hayashi went 9 of 15 from outside and was TCL Player of the Game after finishing the contest with 27 points.
I made nine but I air-balled my first two, so it's something I have to go back and work on.
In the process, she fuelled an all-time team record, with Japan eventually sinking a staggering 20 shots from behind the arc. That surpassed their own shared record that they set back in 1994.
Known to her teammates simpy as 'Kiki', Hayashi was typically modest after setting the new high tide mark. "Obviously I am happy but it is just my job to shoot," she insisted.
"It's what we have to do to win. In the locker room it is a given that I am going to shoot threes. However, I made nine but I air-balled my first two, so it's something I have to go back and work on."
Meanwhile Head Coach Corey Gaines paid his shooting ace a big compliment. "I have coached in the WNBA, NBA and played in FIBA and Euroleague and I don't judge a player until I have seen them in practice every day," stated the playcaller. "I have seen 'Kiki' for many years and I have seen her shoot. She is one of the top shooters I have seen. I would love to see her go against DT [Diana Taurasi] Now that really would be a good match." Was this just a one-off red-hot shooting display, or is Japan once again at the vanguard of the evolution of women’s basketball? And can we expect more of the same from them at this Women’s World Cup?
Most individual 3PT made in a single game in Women's World Cup
Rank | Player | Team | Opponent | Year | 3PT Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Saki Hayashi | Japan | Mali | 2026 | 9 |
2= | Beon Yeon-Ha | Korea | France | 2002 | 8 |
2- | Gricel Herrera Mendez | Cuba | Slovakia | 1998 | 8 |
4 | Multiple players |
|
|
| 7 |
*Since 1994
Most team 3PT made in a single game in Women's World Cup
Rank | Team | Opponent | Year | 3 PT Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Japan | Mali | 2026 | 20 |
2= | Japan | Kenya | 1994 | 18 |
2= | Australia | Mali | 2022 | 18 |
4 | Japan | Mali | 2022 | 16 |
5= | Korea | Tunisia | 2002 | 15 |
5= | Korea | Puerto Rico | 2022 | 15 |
*Since 1994
FIBA