Basketball: the American ogre aims for the pass of four at the World Cup

Even deprived of their totems Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi, retired, the United States, three-time defending champions, are the big favorites of the Basketball World Cup which opens Thursday in Sydney.

Behind, several outsiders show their fangs within a densified plateau.

The transition to 12 teams (compared to 16 in previous editions), divided into two groups of six, announces an obstacle course of five matches in six days to get out of the pools.

Before a final sprint since quarters, semi-finals and finals will be played in three days.

“

,” said France coach Jean-Aimé Toupane.

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The Americans and their WNBA stamped workforce can count on winger A'ja Wilson, MVP of the last regular season of the North American championship, and strong winger Breanna Stewart to compensate for the retirements of the legendary Taurasi and Bird.

As well as the absence of Brittney Griner, imprisoned in Russia after being arrested in February in Moscow in possession of a vaporizer containing cannabis-based liquid.

The United States look two notches above the rest and remain on a 22-game winning streak in the competition since a 2006 semi-final loss to Russia, who were ruled out this year after the invasion of Ukraine.

Jackson, the comeback

This 2006 edition was won by Australia's Lauren Jackson, who came out of retirement in 2022 after nine years of absence to put on the "Opals" jersey again, at home, and participate in her fifth World Cup.

At 41, the legend Jackson will however have a lot to do to make people forget, in the interior sector, the absence of Liz Cambage, pivot of 2.06 m excluded from the selection for disciplinary reasons.

" Pool B

, since it also includes Japan, silver medalists at the 2021 Olympics (defeat against the United States in the final), Canada, still regular at most high level, Serbia reigning European champions and France, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Games.

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The French will however be deprived of their main offensive weapons, injured, the interior Sandrine Gruda and the rear Marine Johannès, who withdrew on Monday.

The Serbs will have to do without the shocking interior duo of retired Sonja Vasic and Jelena Brooks.

Still in the indoor sector, WNBA pivot Emma Meesseman will try to carry Belgium, placed in the pool of the United States, towards a first world medal.

The composition of the hens

:

A: United States, China, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea, Puerto Rico

B: Australia, Japan, Serbia, France, Canada, Mali