German basketball players celebrate their first victory at the home World Cup against Japan
Quick Look
- The German women's basketball team won its second game at the home World Cup against Japan 74:58 after an opening defeat against Spain.
- Frieda Bühner was the best thrower with 19 points.
- With the win, Germany stays in the tournament and will secure further qualification with another win against Mali.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The German women's basketball team started the home World Cup with a loss to Spain and needed a win against Japan to stay in the tournament.
The German basketball players celebrated their first victory at the home World Cup against Japan. One day after the clear 53:83 defeat against medal candidate Spain, national coach Olaf Lange's team won 74:58 (34:29) in Berlin. The last preliminary round game is against Mali on Monday after a day off. With another win, Germany would definitely advance.
The first group in the group makes it directly to the quarter-finals, the second and third play in the play-ins for the last starting places for the round of the top eight. Frieda Bühner was the best German thrower against Japan with 19 points. Nyara Sabally (18), Marie Gülich (11) and Emma Eichmeyer (10) also scored double figures in front of 8,367 spectators in the sold-out Max Schmeling Hall.
Unlike the day before against Spain, the German team started the game with a lot of energy. “It was also a little wake-up call for us,” said captain Gülich about the defeat against Spain. “Regenerate, eat, sleep and then focus on Japan,” Leonie Fiebich said before the second game. However, the team suffered a setback: development player Alexis Peterson was unavailable due to an infection and had to stay in the hotel straight away.
But the selection from the German Basketball Federation (DBB) still showed a significantly better performance than at the start of the World Cup. The German team quickly took a 7-2 lead and found confidence in their own actions. At the end of the first quarter, Sabally and Bühner created a high spirits in the Max Schmeling Hall with three three-point throws in a row. Germany led by 17 points after ten minutes (28:11). After that the momentum slowed down a bit and Japan defended with a lot of effort.
During the break, the national coach managed to get his team back on track. Germany again pulled ahead by double digits in the third quarter. The DBB team took a 19-point lead into the final period, which Bühner opened with a converted three-pointer. After that, the all-important success was no longer in danger.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Germany wins the game against Mali and qualifies for the quarter-finals
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How will the team perform against Mali?
- Can Alexis Peterson recover in time for the next game?
