That Was Brutal: Hungary Suffer 46-Point Defeat at Women’s Basketball World Cup

There were few bright moments for Hungary in a crushing Women’s Basketball World Cup defeat to France. One came when Panka Dúl scored from a difficult position, giving the Hungarian team something to celebrate in a game where even getting on the scoreboard felt like an achievement.

France led 14-50 when Hungary conceded a three-pointer without appearing to defend. The mismatch became increasingly stark. France scored 25 points off turnovers to Hungary’s zero and led 18-0 in fast-break points, leaving the Hungarian side looking unable to match the pace or intensity of the Olympic silver medallists.

At halftime, France held a 61-20 advantage. Hungary had scored only 11 points in the first quarter and repeated that total in the third. The hope was that France would slow down after the interval, but the French team initially continued to attack at full speed. Isolated plays, including a well-executed pass to Juhász that led to a basket, did little to change the overall picture.

France eventually rotated its players and reduced the tempo. Hungary cut the deficit from almost 50 points to around 40, while Dúl scored a two-pointer and a three-pointer during a brief 9-3 run at the start of the fourth quarter. Those moments softened the final score but did not alter the gap in quality. The performance also came with another game against Nigeria scheduled for early Saturday afternoon.