Women's Basketball World Cup: China reversed the Czech team in overtime and won its first victory in the group stage

China News Service, Berlin, September 6. The 2026 FIBA ​​Women's Basketball World Cup will continue with the group stage competition in Berlin, Germany, on the 6th local time. The Chinese team, the runner-up in the last World Cup, reversed the Czech team 74:70 in the second group match and won its first victory in the group match.

The Chinese team, ranked in Group D, suffered a defeat in the first game of the group stage, losing 61:94 to the defending champion and four-time World Cup winner the United States. The Czech team in the same group also suffered a defeat in the first game, losing to the Italian team 54:63. The Chinese team ranks at the bottom of the group due to a point difference disadvantage.

Judging from the record against the Czech team, the Chinese team is relatively dominant. In the starting lineup on the 6th, the Chinese team sent Zhang Manman, Yang Shuyu, Luo Xincheng, Chen Minling, and Han Xu.

In the first quarter of the game, the Chinese team relied on Han Xu to score consecutive points inside and once took the lead. However, after that, they made more mistakes and failed to attack many times. The Czech team led a 13:0 lead. At the end of the first quarter, the Chinese team trailed 17:22. In the second quarter, the Czech women's basketball team expanded its lead. After halftime, the Chinese team fell behind 33:41.

After changing sides, the Chinese team still failed to overtake the score in the third quarter and fell behind 48:53. At the last moment of the final quarter, Luo Xinhuang scored a key three-pointer, and then Yang Shuyu scored a layup. The two sides tied at 64 and dragged the game into overtime. In overtime, Luo Xincheng once again made a three-pointer, and Han Xu scored from the basket. The Chinese women's basketball team finally defeated the Czech women's basketball team 74:70, retaining the hope of qualifying for the group.

In this game, four players from the Chinese team scored in double figures, with Han Xu scoring a game-high 22 points and 14 rebounds.

Gong Luming, head coach of the Chinese women's basketball team, said that the Chinese team's inside advantage was not fully utilized today, and the final victory depended on the players' belief in winning. The team still has many problems, which we hope to solve in future games.

Next, the Chinese women's basketball team will face the Italian women's basketball team in the group stage. According to the rules, the fourth place in the group will be eliminated, and only those who finish third or second will have the opportunity to participate in the play-offs and reach the quarterfinals.