Overview
- Japan opened the tournament with a 102:97 win over Mali and set a Women’s World Cup single-game record by making 20 three-pointers, with Saki Hayashi hitting a new individual record of nine triples.
- Host Germany suffered a 53:83 loss to Spain in its first game, a result that leaves the team 0-1 in Group A and shifts realistic qualification aims toward finishing second rather than winning the group.
- Satou Sabally has been ruled out of the entire home World Cup because of lingering concussion after-effects, while Nyara Sabally is being assessed day-to-day for a calf problem and may miss the next match.
- Germany must beat Japan in the Max-Schmeling-Halle at 18:00 to preserve a favorable path in the tournament format that sends group winners straight to the quarterfinals, and the game will be shown live on ProSieben MAXX, Joyn and Magenta platforms.
- High public attention, including a visit by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, plus the quick turnaround between games mean Germany has limited time to fix defensive lapses exposed by Spain’s outside shooting and to steady the squad under home pressure.