MADRID (Spain) - Japan are known to be a team of sharpshooters and they managed to confirm their reputation as such in the very first game on the first day of the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023.

The young women of Japan drilled in 16 three-pointers in their opening-day win over Italy, 92-71.

Those 16 three-pointers tie the U19 Women's Basketball World Cup record* for the second-most three-pointers made in a game, also set by Japan back in 2011 - and, coincidentally, also against Italy.

However, the record for most three-pointers made in a U19 Women's Basketball World Cup game* is 19 - also set by Japan in 2021 against Chinese Taipei.

As a matter of fact, since 1997, there have only been 8 instances of teams making at least 15 three-pointers in game. USA made 15 against the Congo in 2005. Australia made 15 against Egypt in 2021. The remaining 6 occasions were all recorded by Japan.

UPDATE: Since the first publication of the article, Australia have also been able to match Japan's achievement of  16 made three-pointers in their recent game against Argentina on 16 July. Therefore, there have now been 9 instances of teams making at least 15 three-pointers in a game.

Will Japan continue to rain more threes throughout the competition this year in Madrid?

FIBA