Emma Meesseman turned in what she described as her strongest Women’s World Cup showing yet, scoring 22 points while also pulling down 10 rebounds and dishing out eight assists. The Belgian forward’s 33 efficiency rating topped her previous best in the tournament, a milestone reached after a modest effort in the earlier match against Puerto Rico.
A historic night for Belgium
The outing was more than a personal triumph; it secured Belgium’s direct passage to the knockout round, a result the team called the biggest game of their group stage. By posting a 33‑efficiency rating, Meesseman outpaced her earlier World Cup performances, including a 31‑efficiency game against Turkey and a 30‑efficiency effort versus Puerto Rico in 2018.
Her consistency across three World Cups underscores her reliability as a cornerstone of the Belgian women’s squad. While her Olympic campaigns in Tokyo delivered efficiency averages near 37, the Paris 2024 stage added a 40‑efficiency showing against Japan and a 32‑efficiency performance in the quarterfinal clash with Spain, reinforcing her status among the elite.
Historic efficiency milestones
Meesseman’s career highlights include a 33‑efficiency game against Australia in 2026, a 31‑efficiency performance versus Turkey in 2026, and a 30‑efficiency outing against Puerto Rico in 2018, forming her top three World Cup games. Those figures sit alongside her Olympic bests, where she posted efficiency ratings of 39, 41, 30 and 38 during Tokyo 2021, averaging 37.0, and a 40‑efficiency game in Paris 2024.
The 2026 World Cup marks her third appearance, and the 33‑efficiency night stands out numerically as her finest effort, reflecting both her growth and the increasing competitiveness of the tournament. With the quarterfinal berth secured, Belgium now looks ahead to a challenging matchup that will test the depth of a roster built around Meesseman’s all‑around game.