The ex-players and experts: From MVPs to alternative All-Star Fives

TENERIFE (FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018) - It's crunch time in Tenerife and we have assembled a panel of ex-players and experts to give us their take on the  business end of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2018.

Shona Thorburn is a two-time Olympian with Canada and continues to play in the French League., having also played in European club competition. She is at the event commentating for LiveBasketball.tv - @ShonaThorburn

Tereza Brantlova was captain of Czech Republic when they won the FIBA Junior World Championship in 2001 against a USA team containing Diana Taurasi and is at the event commentating for LiveBasketball.tv - @teracek111

Jeff Taylor is a FIBA writer and FIBA commentator who has been calling the action at the big events for many years. He is commentating for LiveBasketball.tv - @JeffreyNTaylor

Igor Curkovic is a FIBA writer covering multiple competitions and currently oversees the Blog for the tournament - @IgorCurkovic

Paul Nilsen is FIBA's women and youth specialist, covering the female game globally - @Basketmedia365

1. What will Sunday's podium look like?

Shona - USA, Australia, Spain
Tereza - USA, Australia, Spain



Jeff - USA, Australia, Belgium
Igor - USA, Australia, Belgium
Paul - USA, Spain, Australia

2. Who will be MVP?

Shona - Liz Cambage (AUS)
Tereza - Liz Cambage (AUS)



Jeff - Liz Cambage (AUS)
Igor - Liz Cambage (AUS)
Paul - Breanna Stewart (USA)

3. Which of the remaining teams is best equipped to beat USA and cause a shock?

Shona - Australia. They have the best player in the tournament and if their guards can play like they did against China they could knock off the USA. Who can stop Liz Cambage?
Tereza - Spain. They have the home crowd, they are well coached and have some decent match-ups. They move well and it will cause problems for the USA defense.
Jeff - Australia. They are locked in and have the best player in the world in Liz Cambage. The guard play has gotten better and Bec Allen is looking as confident as ever.
Igor - Australia, putting my trust in Lauren Jackson, who backed the Opals to win it all even before the team arrived in Spain. Plus, Bec Allen's Quarter-Final performance shows they are much more than a one-trick pony.
Paul - Probably Spain. They have the big Final experience, the home crowd buzz, a coach who knows about the top level, finally some momentum and it feels like it is now or never.

4. What is your alternative All-Star Five of players who probably won't make the team on Sunday?

Shona - Queralt Casas (ESP), Cristina Ouvina (ESP), Kim Mestdagh (BEL), Diana Taurasi (USA), Bec Allen (AUS)
Tereza - Cristina Ouvina (ESP), Ting Shao (CHN), Maki Takada (JPN), Anete Steinberga (LAT), A'Ja Wilson (USA)

Jeff - Cristina Ouvina (ESP), Julie Vanloo (BEL), Bec Allen (AUS), Kyara Linskens (BEL), A'Ja Wilson (USA)
Igor - Kia Nurse (CAN), Diana Taurasi (USA), Bec Allen (AUS), Astou Ndour (ESP), A'Ja Wilson (USA)
Paul - Julie Allemand (BEL),  Kia Nurse (CAN), Ting Shao (CHN), Maki Takada (JPN), A'Ja Wilson (USA)

5. Who has been your favorite team to watch in the tournament?

Shona - Belgium. They have played beautiful basketball. I can't say enough about how unselfish and passionate they play. They knocked off the 2nd and 4th ranked teams in the world. Absolutely amazing. Congratulations to the Belgian Cats!



Tereza - Belgium. Because it is such fun to watch them. They are well balanced and have great emotional stability. I just love their movement and their rotation defense. Offensively they are never static.
Jeff - It's hard not to say Belgium, a team that has captured the imagination. They are playing old school basketball but with flair and I love the fact that they have been able to bounce back from a tough defeat to Japan with huge wins over Spain and France. They are playing like a team possessed and it's fun to see.
Igor - Before the Quarter-Finals, I'd have gone for Senegal or Nigeria, but Belgium are the sweethearts of this event, no doubt. They had 29 assists against Puerto Rico, 28 against France, and they give you the feel good vibe of that Slovenian team from FIBA EuroBasket Men in 2017. Or you know, the same kind of vibe Belgium already had at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2017. Beautiful basketball!
Paul - I loved Belgium last year at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket and have watched these players come in the last decade from U16 level. They were frustrated at senior level and now the genie is out of the bottle. They have played beautiful basketball. Absolutely beautiful ball. Poetry in motion. The quintessential team.

FIBA