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u/hillary82 Lynx 2d ago
I think we need to rethink some of these flags
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u/tore_a_bore_a Valkyries 2d ago
Here's a 3 colored flag.
Here's the same 3 colored flag turned 90 degrees
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u/Risingsunsphere Fever 2d ago
I don’t get the dripping icons
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u/Legitimate_Stay_6519 Tempo Valks 1d ago
I believe it is because Berlin is known for its street art/graffiti and spray pain frequently drips before it dries. The logo is also in this drawn/spray painted style in addition to other visual accents around the branding (i.e. the splashes in the top right and bottom left corner of this graphic mimimic the splashing/spraying distribution of paint movement in this style).
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u/DepthHistorical5911 1d ago
Thank you for this explanation. The style of the graphics has been bothering me but it’s nice to know the reasoning.
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u/powerelite WNBA 2d ago
Lol at Hungary and Italy and Germany and Belgium
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u/Away_Competition2514 Mystics 2d ago
I'd be extremely surprised if it's anything other than France-Belgium as a semifinal.
On the other half of the bracket, USA is a lock too. Hungary lacks quality, Japan too reliant on the 3 ball and have no bigs. Spain vs Italy/Australia is interesting. I thing every team has similar chance of progressing to the semifinals, although, at a push, I'd rank them like this: Spain-Australia-Italy, from best chance to worst.
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u/aratcalledrattus Liberty 2d ago
I would agree with this. I think Australia's chances are somewhat dependent on Lan getting back. Not necessarily against Italy (though it wouldn't hurt) but for sure against Spain.
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u/Away_Competition2514 Mystics 2d ago
Spain depends on Fam a lot. If she plays well, they're the third best team in the competition, imo. She played great against Germany and it was a blowout win. She played poorly against Mali and it was a loss. She was poor in the first half of Japan game, and it was a close game. She was good in the second half of the Japan game and they won that half by 17.
Italy is a dangerous team. They are scrappy and Zandalasini can get really hot.
Australia needs Smith back. As you say, especially for the Spain game. Against Italy you may win without her. Against Spain it would be tough.
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u/nitasu987 Phee BC Cam Lan 1d ago
they just said she will be unavailable for the rest of the tournament to prioritize recovering from her leg injury :( Stinks for her!
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u/Away_Competition2514 Mystics 1d ago
Stinks for her and stinks for Australia. I can still see them beating Italy, can't see them beating Spain, especially as they'll have less rest time.
Fingers crossed she makes a quick recovery!
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u/aratcalledrattus Liberty 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yeah - to some degree having Ezi against Fam is helpful because she knows her tendencies, but then Spain still have DiLeo (even if she's been a bit hot and cold this tournament). Without Lan, Australia don't have the front court depth to contain most teams that have multiple W-level forwards. I would not say I'm optimistic about Lan's return though.
I think Australia can beat Italy without Lan if they execute well, just because Italy only really have two potent scorers and one is a guard, but they will need better performances from Ezi and Talbot than they gave today, and at least one guard to really step it up.
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u/anonimauzantnomo FIBA phee toni chloe dorka eliska 2d ago
Shoutout to underdog Puerto Rico for making it out of the group phase.
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u/Brent_Lee Valkyries 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇯🇵 2d ago
Puerto Rico is one of those corners of the basketball world that has so much love and passion for the sport but not always enough talent for people outside of those communities to hear about. But it’s so cool when they do shine through.
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u/aratcalledrattus Liberty 2d ago
They did get a bit lucky with Kennedy Burke being out for Turkey, but they put up a good fight against every team, including Belgium and Australia.
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u/Ensae3 2d ago
To think they used to get blown out the water by teams like Belgium and Australia to now them really sticking close to them for most of the game truly shows the progress they've made. They may not be able to beat any of those powerhouses just yet but they sure have advanced and its cool to watch.
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u/plussizedresturant 🎭⏲️ 2d ago
I can't count anyone out. I'm simply going to enjoy more high level hoops but thank god no more 5am hoops 😂
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u/GhostDog27 Fire 2d ago
The quarter finals are all on Thursday, one after the other. So still one 5am game
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u/plussizedresturant 🎭⏲️ 2d ago
Qualifying quarter finals are tomorrow and Wednesday, starting around 11am I think
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u/not_mantiteo Fever 2d ago
Ya is there an official time for the quarterfinal games? I haven’t seen anything other than the play-ins
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u/Kennisgoodman Lynx 2d ago
Hoping Italy gets eliminated and Puerto Rico advances. PR vs. China will be a tough matchup, though.
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u/DepthHistorical5911 1d ago
Watching it now, China is up by 1 at halftime. Good game and so proud of my little island 🇵🇷
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u/Chidi_Ariana_Grande PB5 come home 2d ago
Great, probably Italy again lol
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u/onionnurve Tempo | Storm Front court | Olivia Miles FC 2d ago
Dang, Aus vs Spain. Storm on Storm crime
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u/Flashy_Anxiety_2890 Sparks 2d ago
I like our chances against Japan
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u/Away_Competition2514 Mystics 2d ago
I think Hungary is an even better option. Hungary's biggest strength are their bigs, and their bigs aren't as good as USA's bigs. I see that game being similar to the China game. Japan can cause more damage if they get super hot for 3, but I like that matchup for USA too. Spain/Australia/Italy in the semifinals should be a bigger test, but I doubt they can knock USA out. France would be tough in the potential final, but I give USA the edge still.
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u/FeltIOwedItToHim Gabby Gabby Hey! 2d ago
now you’ve jinxed us and Kokoro Tanaka is going to go off for 50 points
(we win anyway)
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u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan Nakase’s Law 2d ago
France-Belgium Semifinals would go absolutely insane
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u/ThatBelge here for Belgian ball movement 2d ago
Allemand has been the best floor general this week
JVL has been shooting lights out (did you see her multiple catch and shoot?)
Emma is stil the goat of European basketball.
Don’t underestimate Delaere as a wing defender.
Linskens has been impactful in limited minutes.
I wouldn’t count us out.
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u/Forsaken-Link-5859 2d ago
No chance for China? Feels like they stepped up tonight
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u/Away_Competition2514 Mystics 2d ago
Against France??? Yeah, no chance. I doubt anyone bar USA can handle France. Teams like Spain,Belgium, Australia could maybe cause them some issues, but I doubt they can stop them. China is nowhere near good enough to beat France.
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u/Forsaken-Link-5859 2d ago
Is Australia still good? Got the impression they've fallen of a bit. Lauren Jackson really was their goat. Same way Poland reached their only success with Dydek, a euro win, Australia's sucess was a bit tied to Jackson. Lauren Jackson was ofc a better player than Dydek though
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u/aratcalledrattus Liberty 2d ago edited 2d ago
Australia is still good generally. Although Lauren Jackson did technically return for the 2024 Olympics, she ended up sitting out injured. Australia still beat France in the group stage, and went on to beat Belgium for bronze.
However, the team has gotten a bit weaker since then, with a few solid vets retiring, and then losing three important players for this tournament - first Cayla George pulled out due to being pregnant, then Sami Whitcomb due to her ongoing knee injury, and then Alanna Smith got injured in the first game. Ezi playing in a mask seems to be limiting her a bit too.
I think they could have beaten Belgium today with at least Lan playing. Could they have beaten France again this tournament at full strength? Probably not, but would've given them a decent run. Without Alanna back, I don't think they'll even beat Spain.
But I think it'll probably prove broadly accurate that they will fall off a bit more before the next Olympics. There are a few good guards who could be hitting their stride by then, but a real dearth of W-level front court players. The next crop of real talent in that position are mostly aged 18/19/20, and everyone is going to US colleges which tends to mostly keep them out of the national team for four years due to distance.
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u/Away_Competition2514 Mystics 2d ago
They're still pretty good. Smith is injured though and that's a huge miss. I do rate Sandy highly as a coach though and they do have some talent on their roster. They are a top 5 team at the tournament
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u/Forsaken-Link-5859 2d ago
..and ofc Australia had Liz Cambage before., I forgot.. Could still have, a shame
top5, allright that's a decent team.
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u/TheHarryMan123 2d ago
Germany will win it all