Just after midnight, a false fire alarm sounded in the hotel where most of the Women’s Basketball World Cup squads were lodged, prompting an evacuation that began around 2 a.m. The sudden alarm sent players and staff scrambling into the chilly corridors, disrupting the early‑morning routine of the tournament.
Early‑Morning Disruption
The American team, which had secured a separate accommodation, was completely untouched by the incident and slept through the alarm, avoiding any disruption to their preparation.
Australian head coach Sandy Brondello confirmed that no fire had actually occurred; the alarm was triggered by someone pressing the elevator’s emergency button. He noted that the brief disturbance gave the team a short night of rest, but they were able to regroup quickly and focus on their upcoming game.
Forward Ezi Magbegor later described the episode as “kind of crazy,” adding that the unexpected evacuation was something the team could not control, yet it did not affect their performance on the court.
Turkish coach Andrea Masson said his side managed only about three hours of sleep because of the alarm, a deficit that showed in the early stages of the match, but the team rallied and ultimately fell to Australia’s 87‑71 victory at 11:30 a.m. local time.
Despite the early‑hour wake‑up call, all squads were able to resume their activities after the evacuation, and the brief disruption proved harmless in the long run, allowing the competition to continue smoothly.