Haidara sets steals record, posts rare triple-double

MADRID (Spain) - Maimouna Haidara has always stood out on the court and not only for her flamboyant hairstyle, this Mali girl’s got game.

Her most recent outstanding feats accomplished on the court in Mali’s win over Chinese Taipei are historic ones.

After recording 19 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 steals, Haidara has:

- set the record for most steals in a FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup*
- recorded only the third triple-double in the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup**

The other two triple-doubles recorded in a U19 Women's World Cup game were by Steph Talbot in 2013 (16 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists against Japan) and Meiling Zeng in 2007 (14 points, 16 rebounds, 16 assists vs Lithuania).

Haidara had big shoes to fill heading into this tournament after Mail had featured rising star Sika Kone in two consecutive U19 Women’s World Cups. So far, she’s been doing a great job of stepping up, averaging 18.0 points, 15.5 rebounds, and 6.5 steals per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field.

To be honest, fans shouldn’t be surprised. Aside from this being Haidara’s second U19 Women’s World Cup after playing in the 2021 edition, she’s already a senior national team “veteran” after having played for Mali in Women’s AfroBasket 2021 and the recent Women’s World Cup 2022.

* Since 1997 when steals were first archived for the competition
** Since 2001 when both steals and blocks were first archived for the competition

FIBA