| FINAL STANDINGS 1. Canada 2. Belgium 3. Japan 4. Sweden | CANADIANS Natalie Achonwa (Guelph, Ont.) Kayla Alexander (Milton, Ont.) Laeticia Amihere (Mississauga, Ont.) Miranda Ayim (London, Ont.) Bridget Carleton (Chatham, Ont.) Kim Gaucher (Mission, B.C.) Sami Hill (Toronto, Ont.) Miah-Marie Langlois (Windsor, Ont.) Kia Nurse (Hamilton, Ont.) Shaina Pellington (Pickering, Ont.) Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (Toronto, Ont.) Jamie Scott (Clarkston, Wash.) Lisa Thomaidis – coach Steve Baur – assistant Carly Clarke – assistant Max Hirst – coordinator, performance analyst Lauren Buschmann – IST manager Rhonda Shishkin – physiotherapist Danielle Dobney – therapist Patrice Pepin – physiotherapist Bryce Tully – mental performance coach Marni Webster – doctor Anne Marie Thuss – manager Denise Dignard – director WHP Mike MacKay – performance manager, WHP |
| CAN | BEL | JPN | SWE | Record | |||
| Canada | —– | 61-56 | 70-68 | 80-50 | (3-0) | ||
| Belgium | 56-61 | —– | 92-84 | 61-53 | (2-1) | ||
| Japan | 68-70 | 84-92 | —– | 75-54 | (1-2) | ||
| Sweden | 50-80 | 53-61 | 54-75 | —– | (0-3) | ||
Canada opened with a narrow 61-56 win over host Belgium. Both teams were nervous and missed a raft of open looks as Canada took a 12-7 lead after one quarter. Canada’s defensive pressure rattled the Belgians as they built a 16-point lead before a late 9-0 run drew Belgium within 30-23 at the half. Kia Nurse and Belgium’s Jana Raman traded late treys as Canada took a 46042 lead after three quarters. Turnovers plagued Canada as Belgium drew within 58-56 with two minutes to play on a trey from Hanne Mestdagh before Kia Nurse, Kayla Alexander and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe iced the win at the free throw line. “That was a great way to start the tournament and a great team win,” Nurse told Canadian Press. “The morale was extremely high, the passion, the excitement to be here, being in this position to have opportunity to do something special to get to Tokyo. … [Playing in front of the sold-out Belgium crowd] was an absolutely insane environment to play in. But I’m so proud of our team and the way we fought. Everyone came in and contributed in their own way and I think that was something that was really exciting for us.” Canadian coach Lisa Thomaidis said “those are great games to be a part of. We’ve played in a few of these now and the more we’re in them, the better we respond to them. We had a lot of players who played big moments and tonight shows how we can handle them, ride those waves and handle the momentum shifts and still come out on top. It was fun.” Nurse said in a televised post-game interview that “they had a couple of runs in the game that were pretty tough to stop. They obviously have great, world-class players. I think our defence was the key in that and making sure we got possessions for ourselves. … We were really, really excited to play someone other than ourselves. In practice [all week], the defensive pressure was very ramped up and I think that’s what started us and sparked us going forward in the first half, especially with the amount of turnovers they had. We just kept pushing that through to finish it off.” Thomaidis said “every single one of these games is meaningful for us. We don’t want to look too far ahead, we’ve got to do our work along the way, keep progressing and we need to keep the focus on us. How can we be better? Not compare as much with who we’re chasing, but play the highest quality of basketball that we can and see where that takes us. Today was a good step forward in that direction.” Kia Nurse paced Canada with 19 on 3-11 from the floor, 2-7 from the arc, 7-9 from the line, 2 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals. Kayla Alexander added 12 on 5-7 from the floor, 2-2 from the line and 3 boards. Shaina Pellington notched 7 on 2-3 from the floor, 3-4 form the line and 4 boards. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe added 7 on 3-5 from the floor, 0-1 from the arc, 1-4 form the line and 6 boards. Natalie Achonwa scored 6 on 3-5 from the floor and 3 boards. Kim Gaucher added 3 on 1-1 from the arc and 2 boards. Miah-Marie Langlois notched 3 on 0-1 from the floor, 1-1 from the arc, 2 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals. Miranda Ayim added 2 on 1-6 from the floor, 0-1 form the arc, 3 boards and 2 assists. Bridget Carleton scored 2 on 1-2 from the floor, 0-5 from the arc, 6 boards and 3 assists, while Sami Hill and Jamie Scott were scoreless. Scott nabbed 3 boards. Laeticia Amihere did not play. Canada hit 22-57 (.386) overall, 18-40 (.450) from the floor, 4-17 (.235) from the arc and 13-19 (.684) from the line, while garnering 40 boards, including 11 on the offensive glass, 12 assists, 15 fouls, 12 turnovers, 8 steals and 4 blocks. Emma Meesseman paced Belgium with 14 on 4-9 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc, 3-3 from the line, 6 boards and 2 steals. Kim Mestadagh added 12 on 2-7 from the floor, 2-11 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 7 boards and 4 assists. Hanne Mestdagh notched 9 on 0-1 form the floor and 3-5 from the arc. Antonia Delaere scored 8 on 2-4 from the floor, 1-1 from the arc and 1-2 from the line. Jana Raman notched 7 on 2-2 from the floor, 1-1 from the arc and 4 boards. Julie Allemand added 4 on 1-4 from the floor, 0-5 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 2 boards and 4 assists. Kyara Linskens scored 2 on 1-4 from the floor, 6 boards and 2 steals. While Ann Wauters and Marjorie Carpreaux were scoreless. Wauters nabbed 2 boards, while Carpreaux dished 2 assists and pilfered 2 balls. Laure Resimont, Heleen Nauwelaers and Billie Massey did not play. Belgium (coached by Philip Mestdagh, assisted by Pierre Cornia and Sven Van Camp) hit 20-61 (.328) overall, 12-36 (.333) from the floor, 8-25 (.320) from the arc and 8-9 (.889) from the line, while garnering 37 boards, including 12 on the offensive glass, 13 assists, 18 fouls, 19 turnovers, 8 steals and 2 blocks.
Canada qualified for the Olympic drawing by dispatching Sweden 90-50 after receiving a stellar performance off the bench, particularly Kayla Alexander, Miranda Ayim and Shaina Pellington. Although Natalie Achonwa hit a trio of early buckets, Canada appeared lethargic and sloppy as they painstakingly built a 17-14 lead after one quarter, often ceding open looks to Swedes on the perimeter. Sweden began to exploit their superior length and athleticism as they opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run. Pellington rallied Canada with a trey and a driving layup as they regained a 26-24 lead. But Frida Eldebrink kept breaking down Canada off the dribble and draining trey, while Canada repeatedly gifted the Swedes with turnovers off dreadful decision-making before the bench rose up to lift Canada to a 37-31 lead at the half. Alexander and Ayim exposed Sweden in the blocks and Canada’s superior depth began to wear down the Swedes as the Canadian took a 59-41 lead after three quarters. Sweden never again threatened. “I wanted this. I wanted this berth,” Achonwa told Canadian Press. “There have been so many sacrifices and people playing through injuries. We’ve just kept competing. I wanted this for them and for me. I wanted to leave everything on the floor. … So many emotions and so much excitement. It’s not just this game, it’s not just this moment. It’s taken so many of these players that are here and who are not here to build to this moment. It’s been some years and some time coming so I’m glad to be able to celebrate this right now.” Achonwa told the post-game press conference that “I think the energy we came at it with in the second half really set us apart. … I think we always are focused, I remember Miranda coming in the huddle saying we need to win these first three minutes (of the second half) and we did that by getting stops and staying aggressive on offence.” Canadian coach Lisa Thomaidis said “for the team to qualify with a 30-point victory is pretty special. I think it really speaks to how far this team has come. … Having some expectations of being there tempers a little bit of the excitement right now, when we think back to 2012, we were losing our minds (with excitement after qualifying). But I think there’s high expectations on this team and this group, so it does temper it. But I can tell ya we’re a pretty excited group right now, I think it hasn’t really sunk in quite yet.” Achonwa said “it hasn’t really set in yet but listening to (Thomaidis) talk about it being my, Kim and Miranda’s third Olympics kind of made me emotional. Knowing that the injuries, the fight, not only just me but what our entire team has been through to get to this point. I don’t think we take it lightly. It’s an honour to be able to represent Canada every time we put a jersey on. But to be able to do that at an Olympic Games, and to qualify for another Olympic Games … definitely do not take it lightly. … That’s why we come every summer. That’s why we commit to Canada Basketball, because we know that it’s bigger than the individual. We know that it’s bigger than just me. It’s bigger than any player who’s had the chance to put on the jersey right now. It’s the years we didn’t qualify for the Olympics. It’s the people, the vets who paved the way for us to have this opportunity. … It’s a start to Tokyo now. It’s an opportunity that we don’t get all the time to play a different style of basketball, so I think our mentality is the same, we came in wanting to win every game in this tournament, and we will keep that mentality going forward.” Thomaidis said “we’ve experienced the whole gamut of qualification. Last-minute, grind-it-out in 2012, the last possible berth we eked out. And then onto 2016 where we took care of business in Canada. And now, for the first time in our tenure, doing it on foreign soil.” Natalie Achonwa paced Canada with 16 on 8-9 from the floor, 8 boards and 2 assists. Shaina Pellington added 11 on 3-6 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 4 boards and 2 assists. Miranda Ayim added 10 on 4-6 form the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 2-2 from the line and 3 boards. Kia Nurse notched 10 on 1-4 from the floor, 2-7 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 3 boards and 2 assists. Laeticia Amihere scored 8 on 2-3 from the floor, 4-5 from the line and 3 boards. Bridget Carleton added 8 on 2-4 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 4 boards and 2 assists. Kayla Alexander notched 6 on 3-6 from the floor and 5 boards. Jamie Scott added 4 on 1-1 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 4 boards and 2 assists. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe scored 3 on 0-2 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc, 4 boards and 4 assists. Sami Hill added 2 on 1-2 from the floor. Kim Gaucher scored 2 on 1-1 from the floor, while Miah-Marie Langlois was scoreless and dished 3 assists. Canada hit 30-60 (.500) overall, 24-40 (.600) from the floor, 6-20 (.300) from the arc and 14-15 (.933) from the line, while garnering 45 boards, including 14 on the offensive glass, 17 assists, 15 fouls, 15 turnovers and 5 steals. Frida Eldebrink paced Sweden with 14 on 1-2 from the floor, 4-8 from the arc and 3 boards. Kalis Loyd added 12 on 4-7 from the floor, 1-5 from the arc, 1-1 from the line and 4 boards. Elin Eldebrink scored 11 on 3-6 from the floor, 1-3 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 2 boards and 2 assists. Binta Drammeh notched 7 on 3-7 from the floor, 0-4 from the arc and 1-2 from the line. Amanda Zahui added 4 on 2-4 from the floor, 0-5 from the arc, 3 boards and 2 assists. Louice Halvarsson scored 2 on 0-1 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 2-2 from the line, 6 boards and 2 assists, while Paulina Hersler, Farhiya Abdi, Nathalie Fontaine, Ellen Nystrom and Regan Magarity were scoreless. Klara Lindquist did not play. Sweden (coached by Marco Crespi, assisted by Viktor Bengtsson and Mats Ragnar Levin) hit 19-58 (.328) overall, 13-29 (.448) from the floor, 6-29 (.207) from the arc and 6-7 (.857) from the line, while garnering 25 boards, including 8 on the offensive glass, 7 assists, 16 fouls, 13 turnovers and 7 steals.
Canada closed out the draw by nipping Japan 70-68. Japan used its superior quickness to give Canada fits, breaking them down off the dribble, or playing penetrate-and-pitch for open treys, while often exposing their somewhat lead-footed defensive transitions. But Natalie Achonwa drained a series of mid-range jumpers, while Kia Nurse nailed three treys and a raft of free throws down the stretch as Canada pulled out the win. Japan led 17-15 after one quarter. Canada led 31-30 at the half 52-49 after three quarters. Kia Nurse paced Canada with 19 on 2-12 from the floor, 3-9 from the arc and 6-6 from the line. Natalie Achonwa added 18 on 9-13 from the floor, 8 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe added 8 on 3-5 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 2-3 from the line and 5 boards. Miranda Ayim scored 6 on 3-5 form the floor, 5 boards and 3 assists. Bridget Carleton notched 6 on 1-2 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc, 1-2 from the line and 3 boards. Miah-Marie Langlois added 4 on 2-4 from the floor, 0-2 from the arc, 3 boards, 5 assists and steals. Kim Gaucher scored 3 on 1-3 from the arc, 4 boards and 2 assists. Kayla Alexander added 2 on 1-2 from the floor, 3 boards and 2 blocks. Shaina Pellington notched 2 on 1-2 from the floor, 0-1 from the arc and 3 boards. Jamie Scott scored 2 on 1-5 from the floor, while Sami Hill and Laeticia Amihere were scoreless. Amihere nabbed 3 boards. Canada hit 28-69 (.406) overall, 23-50 (.460) from the floor, 5-19 (.263) from the arc and 9-11 (.818) from the line, while garnering 42 boards, including 11 on the offensive glass, 17 assists, 11 fouls, 12 turnovers, 10 steals and 5 blocks. Saki Hayashi paced Japan with 21 on 6-6 from the floor, 3-15 from the arc and 5 boards. Nako Motohashi added 10 on 2-2 from the floor, 2-5 from the arc, 2 boards and 4 assists. Asami Yoshida notched 8 on 1-3 from the floor, 1-3 from the arc, 3-4 from the line and 2 assists. Rui Machida scored 8 on 2-3 from the floor, 1-1 from the arc, 1-2 from the line and 3 assists. Himawari Akaho added 8 on 1-3 from the floor, 2-3 from the arc, 9 boards and 2 steals. Yuka Osaki scored 7 on 1-4 from the floor, 1-1 from the arc, 2-2 from the line and 2 boards. Ramu Tokashiki added 4 on 2-7 from the floor, 0-2 from the line and 9 boards. Moeko Nagaoka scored 2 on 1-1 from the floor and 3 boards, while Sanae Motokwawa and Evelyn Mawuli were scoreless. Maki Takada and Kiho Miyashita did not play. Japan (coached by Tom Hovasse, assisted by Toru Onzuka) hit 26-61 (.426) overall, 16-31 (.516) from the floor, 10-30 from the arc and 6-8 from the line, while garnering 36 boards, including 5 on the offensive glass, 13 assists, 15 fouls, 17 turnovers, 4 steals and 1 block.
Canada, Belgium and Japan (which previously qualified as hosts) earned berths at the Tokyo Olympics.
The all-tournament team featured MVP Emma Meesseman (Belgium); Julie Allemand (Belgium); Ramu Tokashiki (Japan); Saki Hayashi (Japan); and Natalie Achonwa (Canada).
BELGRADE, SERBIA
| FINAL STANDINGS 1. United States 2. Serbia 3. Nigeria 4. Mozambique | |||||||
| USA | SER | NIG | MOZ | Record | |||
| United States | —– | 88-69 | 76-71 | 124-49 | (3-0) | ||
| Serbia | 69-88 | —– | 70-64 | 76-48 | (2-1) | ||
| Nigeria | 71-76 | 64-70 | —– | 85-51 | (1-2) | ||
| Mozambique | 49-124 | 48-76 | 51-85 | —– | (0-3) | ||
The United States (which had previously qualified as World champions), Serbia and Nigeria qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
The all-tournament team featured MVP Nneka Ogwumike (United States); A’ja Wilson (United States); Ana Dabovic (Serbia); Ezinne Kalu (Nigeria); and Leia Dongue (Mozambique).
FOSHAN, CHINA
Days before the start of the tournament, it was shifted to Belgrade, Serbia because of a coronavirus outbreak in China that had prompted the World Health Organization to declare a state of international emergency.
| FINAL STANDINGS 1. China 2. Spain 3. South Korea 4. Great Britain | |||||||
| CHN | SPN | KOR | GBR | Record | |||
| China | —– | 64-62 | 100-60 | 86-76 | (3-0) | ||
| Spain | 62-64 | —– | 83-46 | 79-69 | (2-1) | ||
| South Korea | 60-100 | 46-83 | —– | 82-79 | (1-2) | ||
| Great Britain | 76-86 | 69-79 | 79-82 | —– | (0-3) | ||
China, Spain and South Koreas qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
The all-tournament team featured MVP Meng Li (China); Xu Han (China); Alba Torrens (Spain); Hyehin Park (South Korea); and Temi Fagbenle (Great Britain).
BOURGES, FRANCE
| FINAL STANDINGS 1. France 2. Australia 3. Puerto Rico 4. Brazil | |||||||
| FRA | AUS | PUR | BRZ | Record | |||
| France | —– | 72-63 | 89-51 | 89-72 | (3-0) | ||
| Australia | 63-72 | —– | 100-74 | 66-72 | (2-1) | ||
| Puerto Rico | 51-89 | 74-100 | —– | 91-89 | (1-2) | ||
| Brazil | 72-89 | 72-86 | 89-91 | —– | (0-3) | ||
France, Australia and Puerto Rico qualified for the Tokyo Olympics.
The all-tournament team featured MVP Sandrine Gruda (France); Bria Hartley (France); Liz Cambage (Australia); Bec Allen (Australia); and Jazmon Gwathmey (Puerto Rico).