Just after 2 a.m. local time, a fire alarm was unintentionally set off in the elevator of the hotel where several Women’s Basketball World Cup squads were staying, prompting an immediate evacuation of the building. Players and coaching staff were ushered out into the chilly morning air before being allowed back inside about an hour later.
The American national team, which had secured a separate accommodation, was completely untouched by the incident, while the Australian and Turkish squads experienced the disruption firsthand.
Australia head coach Sandy Brondello confirmed that the alarm was a false trigger caused by someone pressing the emergency button, emphasizing that the episode was beyond the team’s control.
Disruption in the Early Hours
The first match of the tournament took place at 11:30 a.m., with Australia defeating Turkey 87‑71. Despite the early‑morning wake‑up call, the Australian side delivered a strong performance, capitalising on their opportunities and maintaining composure throughout the contest.
Australian forward Ezi Magbegor described the situation as “kind of crazy,” noting that the sudden interruption was something the team could not have anticipated or prepared for.
Turkish coach Andrea Masson reported that his players managed only about three hours of sleep because of the alarm, yet he observed no noticeable impact on the team’s play during the game.
Overall, the false alarm created a brief but chaotic start to the day, yet the disruption did not hinder Australia’s performance, underscoring the resilience of the athletes and the professionalism of the tournament organisers.