2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup Preview: Can Anyone Stop the US Team?

The 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup starts this Thursday, the 22nd of September in Sydney, Australia, while the final will be held on next Saturday, the 1st of October. 12 teams are fighting for the trophy from six continents, including the defending champions, the USA. They are the biggest favorite again according to the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup preview. But the hosts or other top teams might make their job more difficult this time. 

This is the 19th edition of the Women’s Basketball World Cup after the first event was held in 1953. Probably it’s not surprising that the United States have been the most successful nation with 10 gold medals. Only three other countries have managed to win besides them: the Soviet Union (6), Australia (1), and Brazil (1).

The US team is also the defending champion, and the biggest favorite in this year’s cup as well. But the hosts, also the 2018 runners-up, Australia will surely try to beat them on home soil. 12 teams will start the competition in Sydney on the 22nd of September, divided into two groups. The first four teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals. While the final will be held next Saturday, the 1st of October at Sydney Super Dome. 

2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup Preview Mentions Australia as the Main Challenger of the US

The American women’s basketball team has been dominating the sport and won the World Cup 10 times so far. They are the three-time defending champions and also the reigning Olympic champions. So no wonder that online sportsbooks in Australia highly favor them for another victory.

They offer the odds of 1.10 for their 11th title. The US team has players like Breanna Stewart who was the MVP of the previous World Cup and at the Olympics. But A’ya Wilson, Jewell Loyd, and Britney Griner are also top-class players just like the rest of the team.  It’s hard to imagine that anyone can stop them, but the 2018 runners-up, Australia might do that. 

The Aussie team won the World Cup once so far, in 2006 when they defeated the Russian team in the final. Now they will aim for another gold medal. While they can also take revenge on the 2020 Olympic quarter-final where the US knocked them out. One of their former legends, 41-year-old Lauren Jackson will rejoin the team after making her return.

The WNBA Hall of Fame player was voted the WNBA MVP on four occasions. But she also won league titles in Australia, Spain, and Russia. Jackson can be a key player in the team along with other WNBA players. Like Steph Talbot, Ezi Magbegor, and Bec Allen. Supported by the home fans, the Opals might get the gold this time. Their odds to do so are 14.50 in the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup preview. 

Other Teams Who Can Fight for a Medal

The bronze medalist of the previous World Cup, Spain didn’t qualify this time. But there are plenty of other teams that can take their place on the podium. Like the runners-up in Tokyo, Japan with an odds of 20.00 to win the gold. They are also the reigning Asia champions, with their fifth consecutive victory last year.

In the World Cup Japan has one medal so far, a silver from 1975. In the previous tournament, they only finished in 9th place. But based on their most recent performance and with players like Aika Hirashita, they can finish much more ahead this time. Just like China, whose team won the silver medal in 1994 and the bronze in 1983. They have great players like Xu Han and Yueru Li, but they couldn’t deliver in the big events so far. Like last year in the Olympics where they were knocked out by Serbia in the quarter-final.

Now online gambling sites in Australia rank them third and offer an odds of 19.00 for their first World Cup victory. From Europe, the French, Belgian, and Serbian teams look the strongest. With Olympic bronze medalist France leading their list with an odds of 3.00 to win a medal again. 

Several key players are missing from their team but young talents like Iliana Rupert and Marine Fauthoux can be good replacements. Belgium finished fourth in their first World Cup appearance four years ago. While they also had the Olympic top scorer, Emma Meesseman on their roster. Their odds to finish in the top three are 3.24. Serbia also lost most of its top players. So the reigning European champions will have a very difficult task reaching the podium. But have slightly better odds with 3.00 to do that. 

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