SYDNEY — By the time most Americans will wake up on Saturday morning the USA Basketball Senior Women’s National Team will have claimed their fourth consecutive FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal and 30th consecutive win after dispatching China 83-61 in the finale.
This was the first time both teams have met in a Final.
For many the result was never in doubt as this was the same team that the USA beat in Pool A bracket play on day three by 14 points behind an explosive second quarter. This time it was the same thing again after a physical and sporadic start where the Americans started out 1 for 5 from the field.
The USA put more pressure on the Chinese and when there was a miss or turnover, ran the ball to create easier baskets. A big play at 8:04 in the second quarter was Kelsey Plum’s four-point (three and foul shot) play followed up by A’Ja Wilson’s layup off an Ariel Atkins steal and assist for a 24-16 lead. Guards Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum jumpers gave the USA a 68-47 third quarter cushion enroute to the gold.
China, for its defense, was coming off a very emotional last second victory over regional nemesis Australia 61-59 only 18 and a half hours ago. That game, for a semi final, felt like the unofficial FIBA Asia Women’s Championship as both teams represent the same region at this event. The boisterous crowd did not favor the home team Australia as many Chinese fans (both Australian and Chinese citizens) took any home crowd edge from the Aussies. This time against the Americans, the fans, all of them, were rooting for China which was in its second gold medal game since 1994 when they lost to Brazil.
China was without leading scorer Meng Li who was averaging16 points a game. Center Han Xu was held in check with 8 points while other post Yueru Li had 14. Guards Tongtong Wu (13 points), Siyu Wang (11 points) couldn’t carry the the burden.
“I think our players performed really well,” said China National Head Coach Wei Zeng. “After this tournament we already finished one goal. We need to move onto the next goal. Though all it out team has learned from this tournament we learned a lot. Our team still have a mountain between us and the strongest team in the world. From this moment we gained a lot of experience, especially mentally we improved a lot and are looking forward to the games in Paris.”
The USA was a charm to observe as this team with little preparation time from the USAWNT Camp in Las Vegas through the WNBA Finals had to learn to gel under Reeve’s coaching directive and style. Stewart, Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones joined the team down in Sydney right before play started while Kelsey Pulm, Chelsea Gray and A’Ja Wilson from the WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces came in a day after play started.
“The players were in pretty good shape,” commented Reeve after the first game against Belgium. “And they’re up for this. This is fun. We’re not practicing, they’re playing eight games in ten days. This is right up their alley.”
In the first seven games of this Gold Medal journey the USA had quick starts against Belgium (12-0) Puerto Rico (20-6), China 11-0, Bosnia-Herzegovina 8-3 and Canada in the semis 15-0. Only the really physical game against Serbia started slow up two, 25-23 at the end of the quarter but cruised to a 50-33 lead. This time China came out more physical and ramped up their defense in the final to create a tough game before the USA executed their way to the gold.
“Man, this is great. We came here on a mission, a business trip.” exclaimed A’Ja Wilson in the post game interview and who was named the FIBA World Cup MVP. “We played pretty good. We got the W, that’s what we came here for. And, according to my (MVP Tissot) watch we Gold Medalists.”
“I think that as we saw some players, some great player, five time Olympians not be a part of this there was probably great concern around the world that this is the time to get the USA,” said Reeve. “I think what what we showed is that our league, the WNBA and professional basketball players in the United States are really really good. And the depth of talent that we have was on display.”
“There was some great players that weren’t here,” Reeve continued. “What I am most pleased about is the trust and buyin. I always say this, go back to (training camp) Las Vegas and the group that was there. Go back to February (Washington DC FIBA Qualifier) and they helped us build this identity. And great players like A’Ja came in and we were able to get us over the hump, keep the legacy. This is something that was special to us. It’s not lost on us what’s been done since 1996 (Athens Olympics) they hear about it all the time. What I wanted to do was to make this journey was fun.”
MEDALS: Australia (6-2) captured the Bronze medal with a 95-65 over Canada (5-3). The match up was a repeat of the formidable Pool B showdown a few days earlier when the Opals beat the Canadians in a very physical game by three points.
Both teams had little time for rest and it showed up in many missed outside shots and lower scoring game from the first match. Canada missed a number of opportunities at the foul line (13-22) and three point line (4-20).
Aussie legend Lauren Jackson put on a display in this bronze medal game with 30 points in 21 minutes. Steph Talbot added 16 points and Sara Blicavs added 12. For Jackson, who said she was finished despite the 2024 Olympics only two years away in Paris.
“No, I got two children,” said a tearful Jackson in the post game interview. “It comes down to my kids, they’re’ only babies. And we’ve made huge sacrifices during the year. I spent months away from them, a couple of months. It’s too hard on me and too hard on them. They need their mommy. and I need my babies. I am done.”
NOTES: Confusing USA Finals records are due to the change in format back in 1983 when it went from the mixed format started in 1953 to a more familiar bracket play. This is the Women’s World Cup 19th edition but the 18th with USA participation. Under the modern format after 1983 the Americans have won 11 gold medals losing recently only in 1994 (Brazil) and 2006 (Australia). The USA has metaled in every WWC since 1979. This was China’s first medal appearance in 28 years.
Aussie great Lauren Jackson (41 years old) who came out of retirement to join the Opals for this edition of the FIBA Women’s World Cup has tied for the All-Tine leader in games played with Janeth Dos Santos Arcain from Brazil.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: The USA’s A’Ja Wilson won the MVP Tissot watch. Breanna Stewart (USA) who’s played in her third Women’s World Cup was named to the All-Tournament team along with Bridget Carleton (Canada), Han Xu (China) and Steph Talbot (Australia)
The next FIBA World Cup scheduled for 2026 two years after the 2024 Paris Olympics will be determined in the next six months. Now, it’s onward to Paris.
