FIBA recently conducted the draw for the four 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournaments, and the U.S. will play against Belgium, Puerto Rico and Russia in the Feb. 10-13 tournament in Washington, D.C. The venue and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
The U.S. is scheduled to open against Puerto Rico on Feb. 10, followed by a clash against Belgium on Feb. 11 and will cap play against Russia on Feb. 13. The complete schedule can be found here, and game times are still to be announced.
Led by 2021 EuroBasket All-Star Five selection Emma Meesseman of the Washington Mystics, Belgium captured the bronze medal at the 2021 EuroBasket. Russia, headed by Maria Vadeeva of the Los Angeles Sparks, finished in sixth place to qualify for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. 2014 and 2015 Southeastern Conference Sixth Player of the Year Jennifer O’Neill, who starred at the University of Kentucky and was named to the 2021 AmeriCup All-Star Five, helped Puerto Rico claim the 2021 AmeriCup silver medal to advance to the February tournament.
Competing in the Belgrade, Serbia, Group A are Australia, Brazil, Serbia and South Korea; Belgrade Group B consists of China, France, Mali and Nigeria; and competing in Osaka, Japan, will be Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada and Japan.
The top three finishing teams in each of the four qualifying tournaments will advance to the 2022 World Cup, which will be held Sept. 22-Oct. 1 in Sydney, Australia. Should Australia and/or the U.S., which already are qualified for the World Cup as the host nation and 2020 Olympic gold medalist, respectively, not finish among the top three teams in their respective tournaments, only the top two teams from those groups, plus the U.S. and/or Australia would advance to compete in the FIBA World Cup.
The USA Basketball coaching staff and athletes who will compete in the 2022 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament will be announced at a later date.
Three-time defending FIBA World Cup champion, the USA has claimed a record 10 gold medals, one silver medal and two bronze medals, and owns a 109-21 all-time record in World Cup play since the event launched in 1953. In 2018, the most recent World Cup, the U.S. finished with a 6-0 slate and the gold medal behind tournament MVP Breanna Stewart.
For more information fans are encouraged to click on the link seen here: