Mali created a major upset at the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, defeating Spain 82-73. This victory marked only the second win in the tournament’s history for Mali, with their previous win occurring in 2010 against Senegal in overtime.
Trailing by two points at halftime, Mali surged ahead by outscoring Spain 31-19 in the third quarter. Sika Kone, who contributed 19 points and 10 rebounds, played a crucial role in Mali’s success, including two pivotal 3-pointers during a game-changing 16-4 run in the third quarter.
Mali continued their dominance by scoring the first five points of the fourth quarter, further extending their lead. Djeneba N’Diaye also added 19 points for Mali, improving their overall World Cup record to 2-10.
Spain, considered one of the top teams globally, was led by Iyana Martin’s 20 points but fell short against Mali’s determined performance.
In another match, Germany defeated Japan 74-58 in front of an enthusiastic sold-out crowd. Germany’s strong start, outscoring Japan 28-11 in the first quarter, set the tone for the game. Japan, known for their 3-point shooting, struggled from beyond the arc, only making 3 of 27 attempts.
Hungary secured their first World Cup victory in 28 years by narrowly defeating Nigeria 71-67. Dorka Juhasz’s impressive performance with 19 points and 16 rebounds propelled Hungary to the win. Nigeria made a late comeback but fell short as Hungary held on for the victory, their first since 1998.
Hungary’s next challenge will be against Korea, while Nigeria will face France to conclude their pool play.
