Big favorites of the Women’s Basketball World Cup, the Americans retained their title by beating China 83-61 in the final in Sydney, and thus concluding in style a competition in which they crushed the competition.
The United States are on another planet in women’s basketball, and it was seen again this Saturday! While Team USA on the men’s side can lose games from time to time or at least get hung up on it, that’s almost never the case on the women’s side, and the Americans clinched a fourth straight world title in Sydney, on ninth out of the last twelve editions. Opposed to China, which they had beaten “only” by fourteen points in the group stage, the United States won 83-61 in the final, without ever shaking. The Chinese, despite the strong performance of their 2.01m player Yueru Li (19pts, 12rbds), failed to outsmart the Americans, even if they were not ridiculous. Led by five points at the end of the first quarter (18-13) and ten at halftime (33-43), they completely broke down in the third quarter, lost 25-14, and the gap increased to ‘at +21. In the last, Team USA counted up to 29 points in advance (78-49), before releasing the pressure in the money-time, the affair being heard for a long time.
A’Ja Wilson at the top
Even if this does not necessarily translate into the statistics (45% success including 38% at 3 points for the United States, against 43% success including 31% at 3 points for China; 37 rebounds against 36; 22 assists against 15…), the United States were simply too strong in this final, as it was the case throughout the competition. Tournament MVP A’Ja Wilson finished with 19 points and 5 rebounds, and Kelsey Plum finished with 17 points and 3 assists. China, meanwhile, clinches the third world medal in its history, the first since silver in 1994. The bronze medal went to the host country, Australia, which made short work of Canada in the small final: 95-65 with 30 points and 7 rebounds from Lauren Jackson, who came out of retirement this year, in 41 years old, and still in great shape.
BASKETBALL WORLD CUP 2022 (W)
From September 22 to October 1 at the State Sports Center and the Super Dome in Sydney, Australia (program in French time)
SMALL FINAL
Saturday October 1
Australia – Canada : 95-65
FINALE
Saturday October 1
UNITED STATES – Chine : 83-61
