From Sydney to FIBA WOQT's 2024, the stars are back

MIES (Switzerland) - An array of headline acts from the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 in Sydney are ready to shine again in next month's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024. 

Set to take place around the globe in Belgium, Brazil, China and Hungary between 8-11 February, it is set to be the penultimate stop on the Road to the Olympic Games 2024.

 

 

Here are just some of the stars that you need to put on your watch list for what promises to be another thrilling advert for the women's global game. 

Meng Li, China

The quality and experience of the winger is so important for China and showed during their glorious run to the Women's World Cup title game in Sydney. Even though illness ruled her out of the Semi-Finals and Final, she still managed to finish as her team's top scorer with 16 points per game.

Now on home soil in Xi'An, she will be near the top of that fan favorite list and ready to go to work to send her nation to the Olympics in France. Scoring, creating and setting the tone defensively, she can, and will do it all!

Gabby Williams, France

What a tournament Williams posted as she picked up the responsibility from an absentee list that was made worse for France after her fellow star Marine Johannes was ruled out injured on the eve of the tournament. But the forward really did lead by example as her side reached the Quarter-Finals.

It was not only her trademark defense that caught the eye, but also some super work at the other end of the floor too. In fact, Williams departed Sydney having finished as the top scorer for France with 15.8 points per outing. Back after missing the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 with an injury, she is going to be central again for France. 

Arella Guirantes, Puerto Rico

It was at the tournament in Australia just under 18 months ago that Guirantes truly announced her arrival as a bonafide performer on the global stage with some sensational displays. None more so than on debut when she catapulted her country to a historic victory.

The fun didn't stop there and she guided Puerto Rico into the Quarter-Finals of the competition with her classy and assured guard play as they wrote yet another historical chapter. Now she will be hoping to fuel another impressive display from Puerto Rico as they bid to make the Olympics again, having debuted at Tokyo 2020.

Emma Meesseman, Belgium

In truth, it was a tournament to forget for Meesseman, who had high hopes of putting in the kind of run that lit up the tournament during 2018 in Tenerife when the Cats made the Semi-Finals. Set to be one of the leading lights in Sydney, the stellar talented forward struggled to get rolling and picked up an injury which ended her participation. 

But Meesseman and the Cats bounced back in spectacular fashion as she was crowned MVP for Belgium on the way to that amazing maiden FIBA Women's EuroBasket title last year. Playing some of the best basketball of her career, she will be the baller looking to carry the Cats to the Olympic Games in front of what will be record-breaking home crowds in Antwerp.

Ezi Magbegor, Australia

Most people struggled with the crystal ball when it came to trying to predict how the Opals would fare on home soil, but they came out with a medal and of course, that now legendary fairy-tale comeback for Lauren Jackson. While all the headlines surrounded the iconic LJ, the new generation of leader showed their teeth impressively.

Magbegor put in some very nice displays and she came out in the top three for her team in both efficiency and points to underline why she will continue to grow in influence moving forward. With an excellent club season at ZVVZ USK Praha in EuroLeague Women to her name, the center is in terrific form and could be the standout player in gold and green this time. 

Yvonne Anderson, Serbia

While Serbia's head coach continually reiterated how this was very much a transformational tournament for a younger team with many new faces, that process was certainly made easier by having the veteran hand of Anderson in the backcourt. 

She directed traffic expertly and was a big factor in Serbia taking a very creditable sixth place. Since then she has cemented her reputation at the international level further with a strong showing at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 and the guard will be expected to play the central role in firing Serbia to a third straight Olympic Games. 

Kelsey Plum, USA

She has not always been a prominent player in a USA vest which is not exactly a surprise considering the glut of star-laden talent she is alongside, but Plum had arguably her best tournament in Sydney. She finished with the trophy in her hands and also put up some nice numbers en-route to that success. 

She was the second-highest scorer on the team with 15.8 points per game and also dished out more than four dimes per outing. The interesting dimension now when it comes to Plum and the Olympics is that last time she stepped out at the Games, she did so in 3x3 at Tokyo 2020. 

Mai Yamamoto, Japan

The story behind the diminutive and skilled guard being picked out for this list is that it was not her performances that stood out - after all, Japan left Sydney early in a massively underwhelming and disappointing campaign. Especially off the back of their glorious and historic efforts a year earlier as hosts of the Tokyo Olympics. 

What mattered was the experience of a first global senior competition for Yamamoto gave her the confidence to push on and show she can compete at this level. Fast forward less than 12 months later and she excelled for her country at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2023 - making the All-Star Five. She can be a force if she can repeat this level again. 

Bridget Carleton, CAN

It was a very impressive run to the Semi-Finals for Canada in Sydney as they surpassed anything they had previously achieved in the modern era in the competition. Carleton played the leading role in her country's revival on the biggest stage and put in some excellent showings. 

They were so impressive she took All-Star Five status and, indeed, some of the most inspiring and impactful performances of her career have come wearing the red and white jersey. Now she's almost certain to play a prominent part again as Canada look to continue the momentum and perhaps post a medal big in Paris if they make it. 

FIBA