Women’s Basketball World Cup: Germany beat Japan for first win

Germany responded to its heavy opening defeat against Spain with a convincing 74-58 victory over Japan at the home Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin. The result gave the team its first win of the tournament, one day after Spain defeated it 83-53.

Frieda Bühner led Germany with 19 points. Nyara Sabally scored 18, Marie Gülich added 11 and Emma Eichmeyer finished with 10, as all four reached double figures in front of 8,367 spectators at a sold-out Max-Schmeling-Halle.

Germany began with far more energy than it had shown against Spain. The team took an early 7-2 lead, then Sabally and Bühner made three consecutive three-pointers late in the first quarter. Germany led 28-11 after 10 minutes.

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It was also a small wake-up call for us.

Japan defended with greater intensity and reduced Germany’s momentum, but coach Olaf Lange managed to restore his team’s focus during halftime. Germany pulled away by double digits again in the third quarter and entered the final period 19 points ahead. Bühner opened the last quarter with another three-pointer, and Japan never seriously threatened the result.

Germany played without guard Alexis Peterson, who missed the game because of an infection and remained at the team hotel. Gülich called the defeat by Spain “a small wake-up call for us,” while Leonie Fiebich had urged the team to recover, eat, sleep and focus fully on Japan. After a rest day Monday, Germany will play Mali. A further win would guarantee advancement. The group winner reaches the quarterfinals directly, while the second- and third-placed teams enter play-ins.

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Recover, eat, sleep and then focus fully on Japan.