20 players to watch at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup; Volume 3

SYDNEY (Australia) - In the third and penultimate part of our countdown, here are more leading lights ready to step out at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 as we check out places 10-6.

If you missed the first volume in our series focusing on players in the 20-16 spots, you can check it out here, as well as volume 2 here.

10. Julie Allemand - Belgium

While her Belgian Cats' teammate Emma Meesseman gets most of the kudos for propelling Belgium from relative obscurity on the international stage in recent years to one of the top teams, Allemand has been the driving force from the backcourt. It was at the last edition of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Tenerife when the playmaker showed her true potential and level with some electric displays on her nation's debut at the event. That included matching the single game assist record in the derby with France.

Since then, she has played at the Olympics for the first time, helped Belgium take a second FIBA Women's EuroBasket bronze medal, stepped out in EuroLeague Women at club level and in summary, established herself as one of the best point guards in the world. If Belgium wants to challenge for a first ever FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup podium spot, she needs to be playing in top gear in Sydney because when Allemand is at her best, Belgium look so, so good. 

9. Natalie Achonwa - Canada

An anchor for Canada, the all-around influence on and off the floor of Achonwa is significant and no better demonstrated than her near double-double of 16 points and 9 rebounds per game at the Qualifying Tournament in Osaka when she made the All-Star Five. Still relatively recent to the role, head coach Victor Lapena will rely massively on the frontcourt ace to continue being a rock.

Whether it is matching up defensively or being a leading contributor on offense, it would be a shock if Achonwa was not a big factor in Sydney. Plus, with the 29-year-old it's not really about the numbers she puts up, but all of those intangibles on the court and in the locker room as a leader. 

8. Ramu Tokashiki - Japan

What a tournament this could be for Tokashiki. After the absolute heartache of not getting to play on home soil at Tokyo 2020 because of injury and also having missed out at the last edition of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Tenerife, this really is go-time for the forward. She will be ready to show the kind of level seen previously when she was amazing at the Rio Olympics six years ago, having also twice been the FIBA Women's AsiaCup MVP. 

Her smarts will be welcomed by Japan who rather intriguingly have more bigs capable of doing impressive work this time than at any other previous global tournament. That kind of competition within the camp will only spur Tokashiki on further and she really does have the game to rise back up and be the central point for a Japan team chasing a podium finish in Sydney.

7. Gabby Williams - France

It feels like it is time for the fabulous Williams to turn up the dial in terms of her influence on this team. She has only been in situ for just over a year and during that time, has been such a team baller and helped France take silver at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 and bronze at Tokyo 2020. But with the team having hit a tough patch under new head coach Jean-Aime Toupane, including an indifferent display at the Qualifying Tournament back in February, an even bigger role for the small forward is an option.

Not least because Williams was crowned the EuroLeague Women Final Four MVP at the end of the last club season after inspiring underdogs Sopron Basket to a shock title success in Istanbul. While Williams has been renowned for her superb defensive attributes, she has a whole lot more in her locker and could be a key player in her team's campaign in Sydney.

6. Ezi Magbegor - Australia

Australia will walk that fine line between harnessing the power of what will be some amazing partizan home support and at the same time, dealing with the pressure and burden of expectation. Individually, that may also be the case for each Opals player, but if Magbegor can stand strong in this respect, then she could be the difference-maker.  Australia didn't look as strong without her at the Qualifying Tournament and in what was a medicore team showing at Tokyo 2020, she was the standout and consistent performer.

Throw in a breakout WNBA season where she has been turning heads with her performances and she is likely to arrive high on confidence and ready to make some noise. A lot has changed since she debuted at the event four years ago as a teenager. She has improved hugely at both ends of the floor, her quickness for her position always a massive advantage. Excited ome fans will be hoping she can live up to the billing. 

FIBA