Five top takeaways from the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 draw

SYDNEY (Australia) - With the highly anticipated draw for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 now in the books, what were the main talking points from the ceremony in Sydney?

 With so many to choose from, here's just some of them:

1. Easy games - what easy games?

If you want to underline just how exciting and intense the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022 is going to be with 12 nations, you can do an experiment at home for fun. Repeat the draw process and after multiple attempts, it will clearly demonstrate that however you cut it, there are no easy games at all. Quite simply, it's going to be a fantastic and fiercely competitive event. 

Just ask Sandy Brondello of the Opals, who declared: "“Every draw is tough and it just shows how competitive it is at this level! There was never going to be an easy road!"  We hear you and we wouldn't have it any other way!

2. When revenge is on the menu...

Draws always throw up games that make you smile in anticipation and whether you are a French fan, supporter of Nigeria or a neutral, seeing these two teams get pooled together means a potentially spectacular re-match. At the Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade last month, Nigeria shocked France with a historic first ever victory against them - something that nobody saw coming.

The 67-65 triumph even more remarkable as Nigeria overturned a massive 20-point deficit. And, while France were missing veteran frontcourt duo Endy Miyem and Sandrine Gruda and will surely be better when they take to the floor in Sydney on a revenge mission, Nigeria were also missing some leading ballers too - such as playmaker Ezinne Kalu. This could be an epic group game, so get it on your watch-list!

3. Club teammates star duel!

As with any major tournament, there is always the scenario where some of the leading ballers in the women's game have to put friendship and their status as club teammates aside to step up to the battle wearing a national team jersey. That always offers some extra spice - just think about it, all those practices during club time going up against each other.

In the case of recently departed UMMC Ekaterinburg duo Jonquel Jones and Emma Meesseman, there's also the added factor that these two have already went at it in a big way for their respective nations. Bosnia and Herzegovina have shocked Belgium twice in the past 12 months, beating them at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 and in the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 Qualifiers. Both times, Jones had huge numbers, with Meesseman also coming up big. What a sensational matchup this will be in Group A!

4. The hottest ticket in town?

Close your eyes and imagine the scene. A sold out crowd in Sydney, the noise, the passion and intensity of host nation Australia going back up against Serbia, having lost 78-71 to their rivals in a pulsating contest during February's Qualifying Tournament.

You could probably put this down as the definitive game to watch in the Group phase. It is going to have everything - just like the meeting in the Serbian capital. It was feisty (included Steph Talbot being ejected from the game) and had everybody talking about whether Australia wilted in the heat of the home crowd In Belgrade. Now the tables are turned and will Serbia be able to cope with being on the receiving end of that pressure that will be applied from the passionate Opals' fans?

5. Good luck with Group B predictions!

Scan over Group B. Take a closer look. Write down your predictions of how the standings will look. Then, take your list and turn it upside down. Would you even be surprised if it finished either way?

That's right, every single nation in Group B looks capable of finishing in the top two or the bottom two of this pool. There is very little between any team and we even have three Continental Champions from 2021 in Serbia, Japan and Nigeria all in there.

The countdown is on - and we can't wait for the big tip-off!

FIBA