Mali suffered a narrow defeat (102-97) against Japan in its opening game of the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup.
Despite a remarkable offensive performance, the Mali Women’s National Team faltered in the final minutes of the fourth quarter against Japan’s sharp shooting.
The Malian duo of Djeneba Ndiaye (22 points) and Sika Kone (21 points) carried the team for much of the game and kept hopes of an upset alive.
However, defensive lapses late in the game ultimately proved costly against a particularly opportunistic Japanese team.
The difference was mainly driven by the unstoppable Hayashi, who scored 27 points and tormented the Malian defense throughout the game.
Mali will need to quickly correct its defensive mistakes to get back on track in its next game.
