10. Sika Kone - Mali (2018)
Arguably the best African baller around, the forward is on track to be a global star if her current trajectory continues. She finished as the 2018 top scorer in Belarus and accumulated a tournament double-double of 16.9 points andf 10.9 boards per game.
She excelled at two U19 Worlds, was WNBA drafted, has torn it up in EuroLeague Women and was terrific at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 with a debut double-double tournament.
9. Sabrina Ionescu - USA (2014)
The shooting ace won gold with USA in 2014, although Ionescu was just 7th in minutes played and 8th in scoring. After a meteoric rise to prominence on and off the court and now sat at 1.2 million Instagram followers. her profile is huge. That was boosted further with the historic three-point contest against Steph Curry.
She balled at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 and is now looking forward to a first Olympic Games having made the roster for Paris 2024 after a productive FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Antwerp.
8. Himawari Akaho - Japan (2014)
Appearing in Pilsen and Klatovy in 2014, Akaho didn't make a significant splash with less than two points per game. However fast forward a few years and she is a central pillar of the record-breaking Japan team that famously won silver at Tokyo 2020 and now she is set to become a double Olympian.
A defensive powerhouse, she was FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2021 MVP and has two FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup appearances on her resume as well.
7. Ji Su Park - Korea (2012 and 2014)
An phenomenon, Park is in a very elite club of ballers to have played twice at the U17 Worlds, stepping out in Amsterdam in 2012 and then in 2014 also when she posted 18 points and 13 boards per game.
The towering Korean is a superstar in her homeland and famously captained her country aged just 16-years-old at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2014. Park has put in some stunning displays, including a famous triple-double while on FIBA duty and now she is looking forward to a first ever season in European club competition.
6. Meng Li - China (2012)
The do-it-all winger was part of the China team that took bronze at the inaugural editon in 2010. She has since become the outstanding leader for her country at senior level, playing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and three editions of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, including a silver medal at the Sydney 2022 edition.
Li then returned to the same city last year to help China land the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 title. Next up she will be looking to show her leadership skills and qualities at Paris 2024.
Next time we will take a look at the top five spots in the final part of our four-part series.
FIBA