TENERIFE, Spain (FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018) – The USA on Sunday were crowned world champions for a third time in a row – and 10th all time – after beating Australia in the Final of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018.
Under the watchful eye of FIBA President Horacio Muratore and with Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain in attendance, the USA beat the Opals 73-56 in the title game and in the process sealed their place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
USA, world champions in 2010 and 2014, started out hot by scoring the game’s first 10 points and had no cause to look over their shoulders as they eased to a comfortable victory over Australia, the 2006 world champions who were playing in their first Final since that triumph 12 years ago. Breanna Stewart was a leading light for the USA with 10 points and a team-high 8 rebounds, while Brittney Griner also used her muscle inside to nullify the dangerous Liz Cambage and chipped in with 15 points.
Earlier, tournament hosts Spain sealed third place and the last podium step with a 67-60 win against Belgium. The game was finely balanced throughout with just two points separating the teams with two minutes to play when Spanish forward Laura Nicholls hit two baskets in quick succession. It gave the hosts the daylight needed to sneak the victory and Marta Xargay delivered a dagger with 38 seconds left to make sure. With the win they sealed their second Women’s World Cup podium in a row, having finished second in Istanbul in 2014.
Stewart was rewarded for her exceptional play in the tournament by being named TISSOT MVP and headlining the All-Star Five, where she was joined by USA teammate Diana Taurasi, Emma Meesseman of Belgium, Cambage of Australia and Spain’s Astou Ndour. Click here for more.
Also on hand to watch the culmination of the 18th Women’s World Cup were: FIBA Vice-President Hamane Niang; FIBA Executive Director Americas Carlos Alves; FIBA Executive Committee member Lena Wallen-Kantzy; FIBA Central Board
Final standings of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2018
1. USA
2. Australia
3. Spain
4. Belgium
5. France
6. China
7. Canada
8. Nigeria
9. Japan
10. Turkey
11. Greece
12. Senegal
13. Latvia
14. Korea
15. Argentina
16. Puerto Rico
Courtesy: FIBA.com
