LEON - IRAPUTO (Mexico) The Group Phase of the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2024 in Mexico promises to feature many exciting and captivating games.
With games scheduled on Saturday, July 13, Sunday, July 14, and Tuesday, July 16, each match will hold significance as the Round of 16 lineup begins to take shape.
Let's take a look at some of the games that look like standing out in the opening days of the tournament.
Finland v Japan (Group A) Sat 13 July 15:30 local (GMT-6)
It's a game without history and yet also making history. Yes, these two nations have never played each other before at the FIBA youth level and so this is a special 'first'. However, it is not as special as Finland putting their foot onto a FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup for the very first time.
Their debut outing should be tough against a well-drilled and dynamic Japan team that is likely to be propelled by An Kanazawa and Abe Kokona. But, led by forward Nicole Ogun and guard Tiia Talonen, Finland will be ready to compete and impress on a landmark day.
USA v Australia (Group C) Sat 13 July 20:00 local (GMT-6)
What a clash this one is! The only two nations to have ever won the prestigious trophy go up against each other from the get-go and could they both ultimately end up landing on the podium? It will be a fascinating early look at both sides, especially reigning champions USA who will inevitably have people comparing this current crop to the past gold medal teams.
Of course, rushing to early judgement is probably not that wise as USA have historically gotten better as tournaments unfold. Although it was famously the Sapphires that beat them en-route to the silverware in the 2016 Semi-Finals. This game is absolutely packed with talent, with many of the ballers taking place having made U16 All-Star Fives such as Sienna Lehmann and Ruby Perkins of Australia and Jerzy Robinson and McKenna Woliczko of USA.
Puerto Rico v Croatia (Group C) Sat 13 July 17:30 local (GMT-6)
History is guaranteed in this game as two FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup first-timers get their first taste of action in the competition. Croatia will be overwhelming favorites to get the job done and take a memorable first victory as they should have the same glut of talent that illuminated the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship last year.
Their three-punch of the powerful Olivia Vukosa, winger Lena Bilic and Hana Arnautovic makes for plenty of production and entertainment lying in wait. Meanwhile Puerto Rico will again be looking to Desirek Nieves for inspiration after she showed out to make the All-Star Five on Mexican soil last year in Yucatan.
Italy V Mali (Group B) Sun 14 July 18.00 local (GMT -6)
We should continue our theme of historic games and this one certainly has a historic history. Back in 2014 in Pilsen, Mali took their first ever win in the competition against a European opponent. This made everyone sit up and take notice of the African nation and ever since then, they have put in some truly epic performances and victories in both the FIBA U17 and FIBA U19 Basketball World Cups.
FIBA Women's African Championship MVP Assitan Diarisso and fellow All-Star Five member Tenin Diarra will be ready to spearhead Mali's efforts and it will be intiguing to see if they can continue the impressive momentum of their predecessors. Italy will not want to repeat their previous disappointment of a decade ago and much will hinge on the play of Emma Giacchetti and Francesca Baldassarre.
Canada v France (Group D) Tue 16 July 12:30 local (GMT -6)
This matchup was one of the games of the tournament two years ago in Debrecen and arguably one of the best in FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup history as France squeezed out Canada 84-82 to take the bronze medal. Even if that classic might not be repeated, there should be much to enjoy as it could be a last day of the first phase battle to take top place in Group D.
France arrive as European champions and should be favorites to win the pool, with so much strength, power and skill to call upon - including the likes of U16 MVP Ainhoa Risacher and Lilyana Fontcha. Canada can look to their standout and U16 Americas All-Star Five member Cearah Parchment, with Savannah Swords also a baller to be reckoned with.
FIBA