2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup: Daily results and updates - Day 1

Day one of the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup delivered a dose of both the expected and unexpected.

The United States got their title defence campaign off to a strong start after they defeated Belgium 87-72 in their first game of the group stage in Sydney on Thursday (22 September).

Despite missing three players from their 12-woman roster who are en-route to Australia after the WNBA finals, Team USA did not stutter.

2018 World Cup tournament MVP Breanna Stewart led the way as she put up 22 points and four rebounds to ensure her side comfortably cruised past their European opponents.

Elsewhere, Canada clocked an important 67-60 victory in their tournament opener against Serbia.

It was a team effort from the fourth-ranked team with Kayla Alexander scoring 13 points**, Nirra** Fields adding 12 points and Natalia Achonwa getting 10 points and eight rebounds to guarantee the win over the European champions.

In a stacked Group B where only four teams out of six can advance every game counts.

And though they were down by one in the first quarter, the Canadians rallied back in the second to sit 38-28 up at the halftime break.

From there, they were able to stave off Serbia who cut the difference to just seven with under a minute to play.

Puerto Rico marked their first-ever World Cup win in emphatic style as they triumphed over Bosnia and Herzegovina 82-58.

Arella Guirantes sauntered with 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a history-making performance for the Caribbean island.

Puerto Rico's 31-point first quarter is the most ever produced by a team in a women's World Cup and it set the tone for the rest of the encounter.

Japan, meanwhile, stormed to victory over Mali 89-56, laying down a marker of intent for the tournament.

The Tokyo 2020 silver medallists survived a tough opening quarter to bank the win with Hirashita Aika scoring a game-high 17 points off the bench.

Tokashiki Ramu, who missed the Games in Japan due to an ACL injury, underlined her return with a team-high seven rebounds.

READ: Tokashiki Ramu's ready to sacrifice for Japan on return to global stage

France and China were victorious in the final two games of the night.

Gabby Williams led all-scorers as Les Bleues won 70-57 over hosts Australia.

The 26-year-old dampened the spirits of the home fans celebrating the return of Lauren Jackson after she drilled home 23 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals to propel France to victory.

China romped to the biggest win of the tournament so far after they dismantled South Korea 107-44 in an offensive masterclass.

11 players made their mark on the scoreboard with five players finishing the game in point-scoring double figures for Team China.

Li Meng and Yang Li tied for top-scorer with 14 points each as they showed why the Asian powerhouse is one of the favourites to excel at this year's edition of the World Cup.

READ MORE: Australian legend Lauren Jackson primed for encore

2022: FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup: Schedule

Here is a breakdown of the tournament day-by-day. All times are in Australian Eastern Time (UTC +10).

• Friday 23 September

Group A

10:30 PUR v USA - Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

13:00 BEL v KOR - Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

14:30 CHN v BIH – Sydney Superdome

Group B

12:00 SRB v JPN – Sydney Superdome

18:00 FRA v CAN – Sydney Superdome

20:30 MLI v AUS – Sydney Superdome

• Saturday 24 September

Group A

14:30 USA v CHN – Sydney Superdome

18:00 BIH v KOR – Sydney Superdome

20:30 PUR v BEL – Sydney Superdome

Group B

Rest day

• Sunday 25 September

Group A

Rest day

Group B

14:30 MLI v FRA – Sydney Superdome

18:00 AUS v SRB – Sydney Superdome

20:30 JPN v CAN – Sydney Superdome

• Monday 26 September

Group A

11:30 BEL v BIH – Sydney Superdome

14:00 KOR v USA – Sydney Superdome

17:30 CHN v PUR – Sydney Superdome

Group B

13:30 SRB v MLI - Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

16:00 FRA v JPN - Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

20:30 AUS v CAN – Sydney Superdome

• Tuesday 27 September

Group A

11:30 PUR v KOR – Sydney Superdome

13:30 CHN v BEL - Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

14:00 USA v BIH – Sydney Superdome

Group B

16:00 MLI v CAN - Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre

17:30 SRB v FRA – Sydney Superdome

20:30 AUS v JPN – Sydney Superdome

• Wednesday 28 September

Rest day

• Thursday 29 September

12:00 Quarterfinal 1 - Sydney Superdome

14:30 Quarterfinal 2 - Sydney Superdome

18:00 Quarterfinal 3 - Sydney Superdome

20:30 Quarterfinal 4 - Sydney Superdome

• Friday 30 September

17:00 Semi-final 1 - Sydney Superdome

19:30 Semi-final 2- Sydney Superdome

• Saturday 1 October

13:00 Third place game - Sydney Superdome

16:00 Final - Sydney Superdome