WORLD CHAMPIONS: Americans take down Canada, 84-64, in FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup final; Jerzy Robinson is MVP

LEON, Mexico – The USA Basketball Women’s U17 National Team made it six championships in the last seven attempts on Sunday night at Domo de la Feria.

USA signed off their participation at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2024 by shooting down Americas rivals Canada, 84-64, in the championship contest.

The Americans measured up to pre-tournament expectations with a perfect 7-0 campaign, while Canada at least had the consolation of departing Mexico having landed a first silver medal.

The all-tournament team: Jerzy Robinson (MVP) and McKenna Woliczko, USA; Agot Akol Makeer, Canada; Sara Okeke, Spain; and Ainhoa Risacher, France.

Robinson of Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif;, and Woliczko repeated their double-act from last year’s FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship success by providing the devastating one-two punch for their team.

Robinson bucketed 25 points, as well as grabbing 7 rebounds, with Woliczko finishing with 19 points and 9 rebounds.

Canada hung around in the first half and trailed 41-30 at the intermission, while dreaming of making more history at the end of the third quarter. However, USA came out for the last 10 minutes on fire and a 14-2 run extinguished the hopes of Canada completely. USA outrebounded Canada 58-41, as well as dropping a huge 29 second chance points.

Several of the players from both teams played for teams that appeared regularly in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ high school rankings during the 2023-24 season.

The championship game box score.

Semifinals

In the semifinals, USA rallied from 16 points down to defeat France, 84-66, Saturday at Domo de la Feria.

France built up a big lead in the opening 10 minutes, knocking in 71.4% of their shots, while the Americans struggled to find the bottom of the net, finishing the quarter on a 20% shooting mark. The Americans fought back in the second quarter but the energy shifted back in favor of the French in the half’s final minutes as they led 40-30 at the break.

“We were down 16 and we know we have these three letters across our chests. We realized that they were out-hustling us and wanted it more than us, and we couldn’t let that happen, so we came out with a 16-point turnaround and came to win the game,” Robinson told the USA Basketball website.

Robinson tallied 29 points and cleared 11 rebounds, tying the record for second-most points in a USA Basketball FIBA U17 game. Robinson went 12-of-15 from the foul line, bettering her own single-game record for most made free throws by a USA U17 team member.

Woliczko, who attends Archbishop Mitty in San Jose, Calif, had a second straight double-double, posting 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The semifinals box score.

–From FIBA Basketball Communications