2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Final: How to watch USA v China
The United States and China are the two teams left standing after the semi-finals of the basketball Paris 2024 qualifying event in Sydney. Here's what you need to know ahead of final set for 1 October.
Basketball
The United States and China will go head-to-head for World Cup glory at the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup on Saturday 1 October.
The reigning world champions booked their passage to a fourth successive World Cup final after crushing Canada 83-43.
Captain Breanna Stewart led all-scorers with 17 points and eight rebounds while A'ja Wilson banked a double-double, 15 points and 12 rebounds, to extend Team USA's unbeaten streak at a World Cup to 29 games.
Standing between the US and an 11th World Cup title are China who clawed their way into the final after a thrilling semi-final showdown against hosts Australia.
Huang Sijing hit two free throws with 3.4 seconds remaining to break Australian hearts and edge China to the victory, 61-59.
The Opals were left fighting for the majority of the game after ceding their first quarter lead to China in the second period. But a final quarter surge from the home team brought the score-line back level with just five minutes to go, leaving it to either team to take the initiative.
Bodies hit the deck as players gave their all in a bid to guarantee themselves at least a silver medal in Sydney.
In the end it was China, in the first semi-final in 28 years, who delivered under pressure. Han Xu led all scorers with 19 points, and claimed a double-double by returning 11 rebounds for her team. Yang Liwei added 18 points and four assists.
The event in Sydney is also a Paris 2024 Qualifier, meaning the winner of tomorrow's final will also guarantee themselves a spot at the next Olympic Games.
2022 Women's Basketball World Cup: Final schedule
All times listed are in Eastern Time.
Saturday 1 October
02:00 Final - Sydney Superdome
2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup: Stars to watch
Breanna Stewart (USA)
Reigning world and Olympic champions Team USA arrived in Sydney favourites to win this year’s tournament. And with good reason.
In addition to being propped up by an impressive pedigree that includes 10 world titles and nine Olympic gold medals, they have a roster that blends a ripe amount of depth, youth, and experience.
For those looking for the ace in their deck, the case can be made for several players possessing star quality, but when it comes to the international stage it is hard to look past Breanna Stewart.
Three-time USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year, the 28-year-old Seattle Storm forward has a devastating record while in a US jersey.
Since her call up to the national team in 2013 she has assisted Team USA in claiming gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 in 2021 (14-0) and at the 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Cups (12-0).
At the 2018 Worlds in Tenerife, Spain, Stewart was awarded the honour of Most Valuable Player (MVP) award after starting all six games and averaging a team-leading 16.3 points per game along with 6.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
It was an award she would claim again after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in 2021, where she consistently shone for her team. In the final against Japan, Stewart claimed 14 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four steals to end with a tournament double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Han Xu (China)
It might be the obvious to state that towering 2.08m-tall Han Xu will be Team China's greatest weapon heading into the final. If the US are to quell their opponents Xu is player they will need to keep an eye on.
The 22-year-old, who plies her trade for the New York Liberty in the WNBA, moves with the kind of on-court grace that betrays a player of height.
Lethal under both posts, the Chinese star is adept at taking the ball high and keeping it there, making it almost impossible for any opposition to stop her connecting with the basket.
And even when she isn't threatening, she must be defended given her capacity to do damage.
At the World Cup so far she has averaged 13 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks indicating the extent of her workload in both offence and defence.
She also has a habit of coming up clutch when her country needs her most. In her semi-final game against Australia the tall timber drilled home a game-high 19 points as well as banking 12 rebounds.
Past winners of the FIBA Women’s World Cup
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2018 – United States
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2014 – United States
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2010 – United States
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2006 – Australia
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2002 – United States
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1998 – United States
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1994 – Brazil
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1990 – United States
2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup: How to watch Team USA in action
ESPN platforms ESPN+, ESPNU and ESPN2 will air the Women's World Cup live from Sydney, Australia.
For more details on which games will be available on which platform click here.
Additionally, Courtside 1891, FIBA's live video and highlights platform, will be showing content from the World Cup and is available via subscription.