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The Guardian
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Australia's Opals survive late Japan comeback to end eight-year title drought
Australia's Opals survived a late comeback by Japan to win the Women's Asia Cup for the first time on Sunday. With a breakthrough Asia Cup title now under their belt, the Opals can turn their attention to next year's Women's Basketball World Cup in Germany full of confidence. At the fifth time of asking since their debut at the tournament in 2017, a new-look squad finally stood atop the podium on Sunday night in China after an 88-79 win over Japan. After topping Group A with three wins and then beating South Korea in the semi-finals, the undefeated Australians proved too strong for the second time in a matter of days against Japan at Shenzhen Sports Centre. The Opals, which previously defeated their Japanese rivals 79-67 in the group stages, led from the start and built an 11-point lead by half-time in the decider. But six-time Asian champions Japan rallied in the final quarter – with power forward Yuki Miyazawa at one stage netting three unanswered 3-pointers in a row – to level the scores with seven minutes on the clock. A pair of missed free throws by Japan and crucial baskets from Australian stars Alexandra Fowler and Alex Brooke Wilson helped the Opals edge away as time ticked away for an increasingly desperate Japanese side. The 88-79 victory over the world No 9 Japanese, shock winners over hosts China in their semi, finally clinched the gold medal after a 2017 silver and bronze in the next three editions. 'Really happy and proud of the team for their efforts this whole week,' Opals coach Paul Goriss said. 'We knew coming in that Japan had a huge win ... against China and that they're going to be a formidable opponent. 'I think that our team and the players really bought into the game plan.' Sign up to From the Pocket: AFL Weekly Jonathan Horn brings expert analysis on the week's biggest AFL stories after newsletter promotion Alex Wilson provided the spark for the world's second-ranked Opals, the 31-year-old spearheading a decisive late fourth-quarter 12-2 run for an 85-75 advantage. One day before her 24th birthday, Townsville Fire forward Alex Fowler top-scored for Australia with 15 points, pulled down six rebounds and went on to earn the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Point guard Stephanie Reid added 13 points in the championship match while centre Zitina Aukoso went close to a double-double with 11 points and eight boards. Superstar guard Kokoro Tanaka led Japan with 21 points, 19 of which came in the opening term. The Opals join hosts Germany, AmeriCup winners the USA and EuroBasket champions Belgium as automatic qualifiers for the expanded 16-team September 2026 World Cup in Berlin, after a 24-team qualifying tournament takes place in March.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Opals finally strike gold to end Asia Cup anguish
With a first Asia Cup title under now their belt, the Opals can turn their attention to next year's Women's Basketball World Cup in Germany full of confidence. At the fifth time of asking, a new-look squad finally stood atop the podium on Sunday night in China. After topping Group A with three wins and then beating South Korea in the semi-finals, the Australians proved too strong for the second time in a matter of days against Japan at Shenzhen Sports Centre. The 88-79 victory over the world No.9 Japanese, shock winners over hosts China in their semi, finally clinched the gold medal after a 2017 silver and bronze in the next three editions. "Really happy and proud of the team for their efforts this whole week," Opals coach Paul Goriss said. "We knew coming in that Japan had a huge win ... against China and that they're going to be a formidable opponent. "I think that our team and the players really bought into the game-plan." Alex Wilson provided the spark for the world's second-ranked Opals, the 31-year-old spearheading a decisive late fourth-quarter 12-2 run for an 85-75 advantage. One day before her 24th birthday, Townsville Fire forward Alex Fowler top-scored for Australia with 15 points, pulled down six rebounds and went on to earn the tournament's Most Valuable Player award. Point guard Stephanie Reid added 13 points in the championship match while centre Zitina Aukoso went close to a double-double with 11 points and eight boards. Superstar guard Kokoro Tanaka led Japan with 21 points, 19 of which came in the opening term. The Opals join hosts Germany, AmeriCup winners the USA and EuroBasket champions Belgium as automatic qualifiers for the expanded 16-team September 2026 World Cup in Berlin, after a 24-team qualifying tournament takes place in March.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Iowa State women's basketball star Audi Crooks wins gold medal at FIBA Women's AmeriCup
Iowa State women's basketball player Audi Crooks is coming back to Ames with a gold medal. Crooks scored four points and grabbed one rebound on July 6 as the United States beat Brazil 92-84 to win the gold in the 2025 FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Santiago, Chile. Iowa State basketball player Audi Crooks signs an autograph for a fan during an Iowa Cubs game at Principal Park on June 14, 2025, in Des Moines. It's the fifth gold medal victory for the United States at the FIBA Women's AmeriCup and it clinches a berth at the 2026 Women's World Cup in Berlin. Advertisement More: Iowa State women's basketball star Audi Crooks tells why she decided to return to Cyclones Crooks, an Algona native, averaged 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game during the event. In the finals, she logged six minutes and connected on her lone shot from the field and made both of her free throws. Crooks made the United States squad after she and Iowa State teammate Addy Brown were invited to the 2025 USA Women's AmeriCup Team Training Camp from June 16-24 in Colorado. The training camp included a tryout process for the team selection. Brown, who had suffered an injury, didn't make the team. But Crooks shined at the event and landed one of the 12 coveted roster spots. Advertisement A junior-to-be this upcoming season, Crooks is coming off her best season at Iowa State. She led the Big 12 Conference in scoring with 23.4 points per game during the 2024-25 campaign. Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@ or 515-284-8468. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball's Audi Crooks wins gold at FIBA Women's AmeriCup
Associated Press
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
South Carolina women's basketball star Chloe Kitts supports boyfriend Collin Murray-Boyles at draft
NEW YORK (AP) — South Carolina women's basketball player Chloe Kitts was all smiles at the NBA draft while supporting boyfriend Collin Murray-Boyles. He was drafted by Toronto with the ninth pick on Wednesday night. Kitts wore a red dress and popped on a Raptors cap once his name was called. She has her own draft aspirations. Kitts averaged 10.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists for the Gamecocks last season, who lost in the NCAA championship game to UConn. She helped South Carolina win a championship in 2024. Her coach, Dawn Staley, offered her congratulations to Kitts and Murray-Boyles on social media. 'Now sneaking out of town means you'll be sneaking out of the country,' Staley wrote. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dawn Staley Sends Strong Message to Vanessa Bryant on Saturday
Dawn Staley Sends Strong Message to Vanessa Bryant on Saturday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Since taking the helm in 2008, Dawn Staley has compiled a 475-110 record at South Carolina and guided the Gamecocks to three NCAA championships (2017, 2022, 2024) and seven Final Four appearances. Advertisement As she gears up for what many expect to be another strong 2025-26 college basketball season, Staley made headlines for a different reason on Saturday. She took to Instagram to share a photo of the new Nike Kobe 4 Protro CHBL "Lightning" sneakers, set to be released this summer, with the caption, "@vanessabryant I don't mean to flood your timeline but truly grateful and thankful to receive part of @kobebryant legacy and your vision and love for him elevate that legacy! Don't ever stop….mamba mentality!" The pair of custom Kobe sneakers were gifted to Staley by Vanessa Bryant as a token of appreciation for her pivotal role in advancing women's basketball. Advertisement Staley has also had a long-standing relationship with Nike. As a collegiate star at the University of Virginia (where she led the team to three Final Four appearances and one National Championship), Staley earned her first signature shoe, the Nike Zoom S5, in 1999. That partnership laid the foundation for her ongoing affiliation with the brand. In 2024, Staley was one of four coaches included in Nike's Athlete Think Tank 3.0 initiative, which was designed to "turn their vision for a more equitable future of sport into a reality." In February 2025, she posted an enthusiastic review of A'ja Wilson's Nike A'One Black Label Player Edition shoes to support Wilson's signature line. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.© Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images In January 2025, Staley signed an extension worth $25.25 million over five years, anchored by a $4 million base salary that escalates by $250,000 annually, plus a $500,000 signing bonus. Advertisement This deal runs through the 2029-30 season, solidifying her status as the highest-paid coach in women's college basketball history. Related: Dawn Staley Sends Strong Message to Former South Carolina Star After Major News Related: Flau'Jae Johnson Names Favorite LSU Teammate of All Time Without Hesitation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
