MEXICO CITY (Mexico) - Venezuela and Mexico started the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Pre-Qualying Tournament in Mexico with a bang, shocking top-ranked Korea and Mozambique, respectively, on Monday at Gimnasio Juan de la Barrera in Mexico City. Czechia and Montenegro also notched victories in Day 1 of the competition. This is how it all unfolded:
Venezuela upsets Korea in Group A opener
Venezuela uncorked a 13-2 run midway through the fourth quarter to retake the lead and get on its way to the first major upset of the tournament, defeating Korea 84-78. Aguehil Fajardo and Waleska Pérez combined for 11 points on that key stretch and allowed the South Americans to take down the highest-ranked team in the event according to the women’s FIBA World Rankings Presented by Nike. Pérez was magnificent throughout the night and finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals and a pair of blocks. She shot 8-for-13 from the field and 3-for-7 from downtown for an efficiency rating of 32.
Daniela Wallen (19 points and a 25-efficiency rating), Brianna Herlihy (17 points and 9 rebounds) and Fajardo (10 points) also scored in double digits for a Venezuelan squad that shot 48.5 percent from the field, won the rebounding battle 40-37 and had a 38-28 edge in points in the paint. Jihyun Park led the way with 19 points for Korea but was held to just 4 in the second half. LeeJihyun Park led the way with 19 points for Korea but was held to just 4 in the second half.
Czechia rides big first half to victory over Mali
Czechia opened a 20-point lead early in the second quarter and managed it the rest of the way to defeat Mali, 84-63. Center Julia Reisingerova scored 16 of her 21 points before intermission to lead the way. She shot 7-for-10 from the field and added 6 rebounds for an efficiency of 22.
Mali cut the deficit to single digits early in the fourth quarter but ran out of gas down the stretch as the Europeans restored their lead and extended it to a game-high 21 points in the final moments. Alima Dembele scored 12 of her team-high 18 points in the second half. The Czechs shot 48.3 percent from the floor and held their opponent to just 31.8. They also won the rebounding battle handily (50-35) and finished with 29 assists.
Emma Cechova (15 points and 9 rebounds) and Simona Sklenarova (11 points) also scored in double digits for the European squad, while Natalie Stoupalova earned notched a 22 efficiency after adding 3 blocks and 2 steals to her 8 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Center Djeneba N’Diaye also had 15 points for the African side.
Montenegro gets past New Zealand behind explosive third quarter
After a back-and-forth affair in the first half, Montenegro came out roaring in the third, exploding to a double-digit victory over New Zealand, 88-64. The Europeans capitalized on the high number of miscues from their opponent, who piled up 25 turnovers throughout the game. That allowed Montenegro to finish with a 33-13 edge in points off turnovers, which, combined with their 16 offensive rebounds and 19-8 advantage in second-chance points, proved to be the difference.
Bojana Kovacevic (18 points, 7 rebounds and.4 assists) and Maja Bigovic (16 points, 3 boards and 4 dimes) both that 22-efficiency ratings for the winning side. Dragana Zivkovic (11 points) and Milica Jovanovic (10) also scored in double digits. Penina Davidson and Ritorya Tamilo had 11 points apiece for New Zealand, who were held to just 38.5 percent from the field.
Mexico shocks Mozambique in the Day 1 night cap
Mexico erased a double-digit second half deficit and walked away victorious (71-65) Monday night to the delight of the home crowd in the nation’s capital. The North Americans opened the fourth quarter on a 12-2 run to get back in front and, after a series of lead changes, prevailed down the stretch against Mozambique.
Gabriela Jaquez, who scored 13 of her 19 points in the second half, was crucial in the comeback effort. Hazel Ramirez shot 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and added 16 points and 6 assists, while Claudia Ramos (10 points and 5 boards) also scored in double digits for the winning side, who prevailed despite shooting 35.3 percent from the field. Celia Sumbane (16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks) led the way for the African nation and finished with a team-high 22 efficiency rating. Odelia Mafanela (13 points and 7 rebounds) and Chayana Pinto (11 points and 7 boards) also had solid performances, but Mozambique went cold in the second half and only managed 32 points after intermission.
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