2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup: Semi-finals preview, schedule, and how to watch stars in Olympic qualifier

After a jammed-pack day of quarter-finals the semi-finalists for the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup are now set.

Defending champions United States, Canada, China and Australia all came out on top of their first knockout phase games to book their place in the final four in Sydney.

The Tokyo 2020 gold medallists, hunting their fourth consecutive world title, opened the day's action with a 88-55 conquest over European champions Serbia.

Alyssa Thomas produced a double-double (13 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists) as Kelsey Plum added a game-high 17 points to extend the US' record to successive wins at a FIBA World Cup to 28 games.

Sitting tight at 50-33 at the end of the first half, the Americans held firm to set up their semi-final clash against world number four Canada.

The Canadians advance having defeated Puerto Rico 79-60 bringing an end to the Caribbean nation's fairytale run at the tournament.

Exploding to a 26-11 lead after the first period, Team Canada never looked back with Kia Nurse leading the five players who scored double figures with her own 17-point contribution.

China prevailed against Olympic bronze medallists France 85-71 in the day's penultimate quarter-final showdown to book their spot in the semis for the first time in 28 years.

Five players scored in double figures with Li Meng leading the pack with 23 points and Huang Sijing adding 18.

After a tied first quarter, China emerged the stronger of the two teams after the break to stretch out to a lead of 50-39. Despite a surge by France in the early period of the third, the Asian team swallowed the pressure to stave off the 2021 EuroBasket silver medallists.

Up next for China will be Australia, who saw off Belgium 86-69 in the final match of the day.

Cayla George starred with 19 points, nine rebounds and two assists with Marianna Tolo contributing 13 points as the hosts eased through to the medal rounds.

The Cats, without star Emma Meessemann, who was forced to stop her competition run due to injury, struggled for traction with the Opals breezing to a 10-point lead after the first period.

The Belgians began to ask questions of their Aussie rivals in the fourth, which they won on points, but it was too little too late for the home team in ascendancy.

READ MORE: Australian legend Lauren Jackson is making a sensational comeback.

2022 Women's Basketball World Cup: Semi-final schedule

All times listed are in Australian Eastern Time (UTC+10).

• 17:00 - United States v Canada - Sydney Superdome

• 19:30 - China v Australia - 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.

Lauren Jackson (Australia)

2006 champions, and 2018 runners-up, Australia will be hoping hosting duties gives them an advantage in the semi-finals.

If they were looking for a sign that now is the time to knock the Team USA giants off their perch then the return of Lauren Jackson to the roster is surely one.

The 41-year-old WNBA Hall of Famer underlined a remarkable comeback to the game after she was named on her fifth FIBA World Cup roster for Australia by head coach Sandy Brondello.

Jackson returns from retirement looking to write another chapter in what an already stellar career has been.

To date, the centre has clinched two WNBA championships with the Seattle Storm in 2004 and 2010, won league titles in Australia, Spain and Russia, been awarded the WNBA MVP award four times and amassed three Olympic silver medals and one bronze.

The Opal hung up her jersey in 2016 after continual knee injuries threatened her playing career. After retiring she had two sons before mounting her comeback.

Li Meng (China) 

China have been an offensive tour de force at the FIBA Women's World Cup in Sydney and there's one good reason why: Li Meng.

While attention can be naturally drawn to the height of Xu Han, towering at 2.08m or the force of Huang Sijing, who stole the show at the World Cup qualifiers earlier this year, in Sydney it has been Li who has been prolific for China.

The 27-year-old is currently leading the Chinese team in point scoring, and is sitting in fourth overall in the tournament for points per game, averaging 16.0 in six games.

But what's more, has been her ability to stand up when her team have faced some of their toughest challenges.

In their 77-63 group game loss to behemoths Team USA Li still managed to up 21 points for her team. In their quarter-final clash against Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists France, it was the number nine once again, leading the way in shooting, finishing the game with 23 points, two rebounds and four assists.

The last time China reached the semi-finals of the World Cup was in 1994, with that 28-year-long wait broken could Li lead China to silverware in Sydney?

2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup: The road to the final

All times are in Australian Eastern Time (UTC +10).

Saturday 1 October

13:00 Third place game - Sydney Superdome

16:00 Final - Sydney Superdome

Past winners of the FIBA Women’s World Cup

• 2018 – United States

• 2014 – United States

• 2010 – United States

• 2006 – Australia

• 2002 – United States

• 1998 – United States

• 1994 – Brazil

• 1990 – United States