Mali's Dramatic Comeback
Mali captured a stunning 82-73 victory over Spain in the Women's Basketball World Cup, earning its second-ever tournament title and marking a historic moment for the nation's women's basketball program.
The turning point arrived in the third quarter, when Mali erased a 45-44 halftime deficit by outscoring Spain 31-19, a surge fueled by Sika Kone's 19 points, including two crucial three‑pointers that sparked the rally.
Djeneba N'Diaye added 19 points of her own, reinforcing Mali's offensive balance and helping the team improve to a 2‑10 record in World Cup history.
Spain, despite a strong lineup featuring Iyana Martin, who contributed 20 points, struggled to recover after the third‑quarter collapse, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining momentum against a resilient opponent.
Group A Action
Germany secured its first World Cup victory by defeating Japan 74-58, with the German squad establishing early control and outscoring Japan 28-11 in the opening period, while Japan managed only 3‑for‑27 from beyond the arc.
Virag Takacs‑Kiss led Germany's scoring with 17 points, complemented by Frieda Buhner's 19 and Nyara Sabally's 18, underscoring a balanced offensive effort that propelled the Germans to the top of the group.
Hungary also achieved a breakthrough, winning 71-67 against Nigeria after a late-game comeback led by Dorka Juhasz, following a 66-52 deficit that Nigeria built before Elizabeth Balogun's final‑second basket and Reka Lelik's free throws sealed the win.
The final results left all four teams in Group A with a 1‑1 record, underscoring the competitiveness of the bracket and setting the stage for the knockout rounds.