Australia will have to take the scenic route to the FIBA World Cup podium should it win a medal after losing its final group game.
The Opals, who went 2-0 to begin Pool C, were outclassed by medal fancy Belgium, 80-68, on Monday night and were awaiting the result of a Pool D clash between China and Italy to discover their next opponent with that game likely to be played in the early hours of Wednesday AEST.
Australia would need to win that knockout clash to keep its campaign alive and progress to the quarterfinals.
Clutch time
The national team known as the Cats held the ascendancy all game, but the Opals hung tough through Ezi Magbegor (15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists), Jade Melbourne (10 points, 6 assists) and Steph Talbot (10 rebounds, 8 points).
Over the past decade, Australian teams have sported so much experience but with the withdrawals of Cayla George and Sami Whitcomb in the lead-up plus seven major-tournament debutants it was an area it just simply couldn't match against a core Belgium group with so much history together.
Belgium looked to its experienced heads who made big shots and got big stops, managed their key players, having had less rest than the Opals after last night's game, as Australia turned the ball over seven times, after making just four errors across the first three quarters, under pressure in the final stanza.
FIBA commentator Shona Thorburn summed up Belgium's last-quarter approach and mindset: "We're better than you and we believe it."
SOS Sami
Oh, to have the poise and leadership of Sami Whitcomb on court against Belgium.
The Opals negotiated convincing wins over Puerto Rico then Türkiye but the absence of the unavailable skipper was glaring in the second half on Monday night especially with the inexperience of this Aussie team against the seasoned Belgium group.
With Belgium ahead and applying pressure down the stretch, Jade Melbourne tried her darndest to take on the responsibility and facilitating but it was the Cats who got the cream.
Whitcomb's wares were on show at the qualifying tournament in March when she was crowned MVP. A constant scoring threat, she made settling baskets and was the glue that brought the team together.
Mighty Meesseman
Emma Meesseman is one of the best players in the world and her masterclass against Australia showed why.
The classy forward, who's won and done it all through Europe, is a WNBA champion, Finals MVP and two-time All-Star, fell just two assists of a triple double -- she teamed a game-high 22 points with 11 rebounds and 8 assists -- and dominated from the outset.
Her magnificent midrange game was centre stage and while she was Belgium's leading lady. She had outstanding supporting acts in Julie Vanloo (12 points), Julie Allemand (11 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds) and Kyara Linskens (12 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks).
Belgium was widely regarded as a medal favourite pre-tournament and with its performance tonight, and now after finishing undefeated at the top of the pool, is well on the way.
Watch every game of the FIBA Women's World Cup LIVE on ESPN on Disney+, with all Opals, USA and knockout games also available on ESPN via Foxtel, Kayo, Fetch and Sky Sport NZ!
