By Victor Kanayo
The United States of America (USA) senior women’s basketball team on Saturday morning defeated China 83-61 in the final of the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup to retain its title.
USA won all four quarters in a commanding display at the Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney with 15,895 fans attending the final.
The team won the four quarters 13-18, 20-25, 14-15, 14-15 to record back-to-back victories over China at the tournament.
Despite the defeat, China’s Li Yueru ended the game as the top performer with 19 points and 12 rebounds ahead of WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) A’ja Wilson.
A’ja Wilson was able to score 19 points with 5 assists for USA ahead of her teammate, Kelsey Plum who scored 17 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists.
USA has won the last four editions of the FIBA Women’s World Cup after Australia clinched the 2006 edition.
2006 Champions and host, Australia won the third place match defeating Canada 95-65.
Australia won all four quarters 27-21, 24-22, 20-11, 24-11.
The host won four of its five group games against Mali, Serbia, Canada, and Japan after losing its opening match 57-70 to France.
In the quarter-final, Australia toppled Belgium 86-69 before losing a close semi-final match 59-61 to China.
Nigeria failed to attend the mundial after World basketball body substituted Africa’s most populous nation with Mali following crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Basketball even after qualifying for the competition.
At the time, the Nigerian Government first suspended the country from participating in all international basketball activities.
Though, the ban was later lifted, it was rather late for Nigeria to be reintegrated into the competition.
