Australia secured an 87-71 victory over Turkey in the Women’s Basketball World Cup, clinching a spot in the final phase with two wins and setting up a showdown with European champion Belgium on Monday.
The win was built on strong performances, notably 21 points from Ezi Magbegor, while Turkey’s Sevgi Uzun answered with 24 points and rallied her team from an early 8-0 deficit before ultimately falling short.
Australia’s roster featured seven World Cup debutants, and captain Sami Whitcomb was absent due to a lingering knee injury, highlighting the depth and resilience of the squad.
Quarterfinal Prospects
The upcoming match against Belgium could determine a direct route to the quarterfinals, as the Australians aim to extend their momentum after a dominant group stage.
Meanwhile, the United States continued its unbeaten run, facing Italy with Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers looking to stretch the streak to 32 games, a record that has persisted since the 2006 semifinal.
In another development, China, bolstered by 7‑foot‑3 center Zhang Ziyu, contested the Czech Republic in search of its first win of the tournament.
Australia’s triumph guarantees at least a playoff berth in the final phase, underscoring the competitive balance of the tournament as teams from across continents vie for position.