2018 FIBA Women's World Cup

[carlo]

2018 World Cup will be held Sept. 22-30 in Tenerife, Spain.

Preliminary round groups draw:

Gr. A - Canada, France, Greece, South Korea

Gr. B - Argentina, Australia, Nigeria, Turkey

Gr. C - Belgium, Japan, Puerto Rico, Spain

Gr. D - China, Latvia, Senegal, USA

The top teams from each group will directly advance to QF, the 2nd and 3rd teams from each group will battle for the remaining four spots.

The 2018 WC winner will autonmatically qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games.

[JGX]

Spain beat Japan 87-81 and 84-83 in a pair of friendlies:

https://www.efe.com/efe/espana/deportes/87-81-espana-avanza-en-su-puesta-a-punto-para-tenerife-derrotando-japon/10006-3674404

http://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20180706/45725273708/84-83-espana-gana-a-japon-con-una-canasta-sobre-la-bocina.html

[carlo]

Canada with easy wins over Turkey in Edmonton, 78-45 and 73-46. Third exhibition game cancelled due to visitors injuries/illness.
Both teams not with their strongest rosters.

http://basketball.ca/en/news-article/canada-opens-edmonton-grads-international-classic-with-big-victo

http://basketball.ca/en/news-article/slug-chn14g

[carlo]

US NT pool is now 34 players with the addition of Jasmine Thomas (Connecticut Sun). Training camp set to open Sept 3, with three exhibition games to follow (intrasquad on 9/5, Canada 9/8 and Japan 9/10).

https://www.usab.com/news-events/news/2018/07/wnt-fall-schedule.aspx

Several selected players could still be unavailable in that period if engaged in WNBA playoffs (to start Aug 21).

[carlo]

In recent exhibitions, Spain prevailed 65-62 over Australia, who rested Liz Cambage and fielded just eight players, while Turkey clearly beat Nigeria 89-51 in Instanbul.
Australia had to deal with some injured players, including starter's Leilani Mitchell, to be replaced by Seattle Storms Sami Whitcomb.

[sinobball]

Japan has no center or any player that can remotely be considered a post player; no Ramu Tokashiki (injured), no Asako O (retired), no Yuka Mamiya/Osaki (pregnant). Yoshida seems to have also retired from the NT. They should beat enough teams to make the top 8, but medaling will be difficult when you have no player over 184cm. (As comparison China's average height is 187cm.)

How many of Nigeria's players are Americans of Nigerian descent?

[sinobball]

Senegal beat Latvia! When was the last time a European team lost to an African team in a major tournament?

[JGX]

How many of Nigeria's players are Americans of Nigerian descent?

I think five or six players were born in the US.

Senegal over Latvia is not only the first time an African team has beaten a European team at a major tournament, but also the first time an African team has won a group stage game at a major tournament.

Record of African teams at Olympics and WC:

2016 Olympics: Senegal 0-5
2012 Olympics: Angola 0-5
2008 Olympics: Mali 0-5
2004 Olympics: Nigeria 1-5 (beat Korea in 11th place game)
2000 Olympics: Senegal 0-6
1996 Olympics: DR Congo 0-7

2014 WC: Mozambique 0-3, Angola 0-3
2010 WC: Mali 1-4, Senegal 0-5 (Mali beat Senegal in 15th place game)
2006 WC: Senegal 1-4, Nigeria 0-5 (Senegal beat Nigeria in 15th place game)
2002 WC: Senegal 1-4, Tunisia 0-5 (Senegal beat Tunisia in 15th place game)
1998 WC: Senegal 1-4, DR Congo 0-5 (Senegal beat Argentina in 13th-16th place semifinal)
1994 WC: Kenya 0-8
1990 WC: Senegal 2-6, DR Congo 1-7 (Senegal beat DR Congo and both teams beat Malaysia)
1983 WC: DR Congo 0-7
1979 WC: Senegal 0-6
1975 WC: Senegal 0-7
1971 WC: Madagascar(!) 0-8

[JGX]

Delle Donne only played three minutes today, hopefully she hasn't aggravated her knee injury. Griner still out with a sprained ankle and they could really use her protecting the rim since this is a poor defensive team. US guards haven't been great at either end of the court.

[JGX]

Nigeria makes it 2 out of 2 for the African teams by beating Turkey. Turkey had had beaten them 89-51 last week.

[Efesdxb]

Nigeria makes it 2 out of 2 for the African teams by beating Turkey. Turkey had had beaten them 89-51 last week.

All respect to Nigeria, this lost totally writes to Turkish coach Ekrem Memnun. He didn't do anything when the momentum changed on 2nd quarter. We were leading by 12pts and Nigeria made full court pressure, Turkey made 3 consecutive TOs. On time out he just said, give your full concentration. No substitution, no plans, nothing. After that similar thing happened on third quarter, when Nigeria had 17-0 run. 2 time outs and similar conversations. Heads up girls bla bla... I didn't see him using his tactic board at all...
This might be his style, he knows the players but only psychological treatment can't help.

[carlo]

Africa Day!

As for the the US connections this is the situation of Nigerian team, afaik:

#7 Sarah Ogoke, US-born, Sou. Poly State 2014;
#9 Aisha Mohammed, Nigeria-born, Virginia 2009;
#10 Promise Amukamara, US-born, Arizona State 2015;
#11 Adoaora Elonu, US-born, Texas A&M 2012;
#12 Elo Edeferioka, Nigeria-born, Georgia Tech 2018;
#13 Evelyn Akhator, Nigeria-born, Kentucky 2017;
#21 Atonye Nyingifa, US-born, UCLA 2014;
#23 Ezinne Kalu, US-born, Savannah State 2015;
#24 Sarah Imovbioh, Nigeria-born, South Carolina 2016;
#30 Cecilia Okoye, US-born, McNeese State 2014.

All have double citizenship status except Edeferioka, Akhator and Imovbioh (Nigerian-only).

Senegal's Yacine Diop is a RS Senior at Louisville after three years at Pittsburgh (2014-17).

https://gocards.com/news/2018/5/9/womens-basketball-adds-yacine-diop-for-2018-19-campaign.aspx

Additionally, Khady Dieng is Auburn grad 2017.

[sinobball]

I'm quite surprised how Africa won 2 group games today and 0 games from 1971-2017. Incredible

Nigeria is basically the African version of Philippines, but at least they all look Nigerian.

Is Senegal unable to get any French-born players to play for them?

[carlo]

I'm quite surprised how Africa won 2 group games today and 0 games from 1971-2017. Incredible

Nigeria is basically the African version of Philippines, but at least they all look Nigerian.

Is Senegal unable to get any French-born players to play for them?

Senegal team only has one French-born player, Bintou Dieme. Not sure if there are many more to be picked from France. Instead, Astou Ndour (Spain's F/C) is Senegalese-born but transferred to Canary Islands when she was 14 and is a "naturalized" player.
Senegal has two other members I didn't mention from US colleges, i.e. Oumoul Thiam and Aminata Fall, both from So. Nazarene, NCAA 2. Fall hasn't played in the tournament so far.

https://www.afrobasket.com/Senegal/basketball-National-Team.asp?women=1

[Dtown]

Africa goes from 0 wins in the world cup, to both teams qualified for the second round.

Bracket is almost set. Canada vs. France is the big one. Winner goes to the round of 8, and gets to avoid the US until the final.