USA FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup Team Recap
The Gold Medalists - USA Basketball U19 World Cup. Photo courtesy of USA Basketball.
USA wins again. Not nearly as easily as it looked on paper!
July 29, 2025
For the eleventh time and fourth in a row, the USA won the FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup. The event held every other year was played July 12-20, 2025, in Brno, Czech Republic with 15 countries (Mali withdrew late) participating. The USA went 7-0 (3-0 in pool play) and ran the table in the knockout rounds. For the record, in the final the USA defeated Australia 88-76 with Spain taking third by edging favored Canada 70-68. France (which the USA narrowly beat 70-65) took fifth over Japan via a 76-64 victory.
An easy victory
Reading other accounts by writers, the USA was a solid favorite and won “business as usual.” In this piece, a step-by-step examination of this title and the players (all of the Americans and a few others) will be made.
Would the USA always win this event if simulated on a computer 10 times?
Probably not! Remember, this is a one and done event in bracket play. Australia, France and Canada had the material if things broke right in one of the renditions. Even though Spain finished third and had a team filled with players capable of playing US D1 ball, I am not sure that they had enough punch to win this. Things broke right for them to finish third. Australia had the balance and excellent team chemistry. France was the most athletic team present but needed to shoot it better at times. Canada had the talent but could not conceal the weakness in the middle and its Power Four prospects were not consistent enough game to game as this event played out in “this reality.” The USA youth/inexperience (would remain the same in each rendition) combined with less stellar play by Hall and Betts tell me the USA would not win this event 10/10 but probably most of the 10! The other 10 national teams of this U19 just did not have enough talent to win even once.
Can FIBA find a site where people will come watch international women’s basketball?
Perhaps not as the crowds were underwhelming in Brno day after day. Most fans appeared to be the very modest followings of the teams on the court at that moment. Even the Czech team did not move the attendance needle much and sadly they were not particularly competitive finishing 13th.
Refereeing inconsistent but consistent
The officials in FIBA events come from all over the world. In some games, players could get in minor body contact on non-shooting ball handlers or contact on the lower body of shooters. In other contests things were called more tightly. However, in any one game what you got from the refs was pretty consistent even if a viewer online might not agree with any one call.
Is the world catching up to the USA in these younger (U19, U17) events?
Maybe a few countries but not what the hyping announcers would make one think. First, remember most of the world puts very little financial resources into women’s sports. Then consider there are not that many countries with the population and interest to challenge the USA in this sports discipline. If the gap is closing anywhere, 3x3 competition (which I am not into) is where it is happening. Also, with 3x3 events to cover, USA Basketball has had to spread its talent resource even thinner (Sarah Strong, who was with USA 3x3, would have helped this team greatly). Thus, at least in this rotation, it was as much the USA getting weaker more than the rest of the world getting stronger. Still, for this 5on5 U19, it came down to the same countries that challenged the USA in the past.
Looking at experience breakdown of the USA squad…
In terms of experience, this may have been the least experienced USA U19 teams ever. In checking 2021, 2023 and 2025, the 2021 team had only one underclass player (Lauren Betts now of UCLA). The 2023 team had two in Joyce Edwards (now of South Carolina) and Allie Ziebell (now of UCONN). This year the USA had six players with high school eligibility remaining, three 2025 high school graduates and three 2024 (one year into college). Experience/maturity matters, and this USA squad had a more limited amount than normal.
The USA scores were somewhat deceiving. A quick look at the USA results round by round.
Pool play:
USA 134-53 Korea
After a few minutes, Korea got crushed inside. Rebounds were 56-27, favoring the USA. As things went on, matters went from bad to worse for Korea. Sienna Betts posted 25 points (11/12 from the field) and 6 rebounds while Saniyah Hall posted 23 points (8/13 from the field) and 6 rebounds.
UCLA bound Sienna Betts was dominant at U19. Photo courtesy of USA Basketball.
USA 79-49 Hungary
This game was relatively competitive until the 4th quarter (42-31 at half and 59-43 after 3 quarters). Hungary was physical and made it a grinder until wearing down in the last 10 minutes. I was impressed by Hungarian point guard Eszter Ratkai in her ball handling and running their offense which helped an overall less talented team stay competitive. Kate Harpring led the USA with 15 points in what might be called balanced but not pretty offense by the USA, shooting 30/70 from the field but only 3/16 for 3’s and 16/30 from the charity stripe.
USA 114-40 Israel
The USA rolled early being more skilled, physical and athletic. Israel’s Gal Raviv (headed to Miami [FL] after a year at Quinnipiac) had a terrific tournament averaging 26.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 4.7 apg but was held to 9 points on 4/10 from the field. Jazzy Davidson posted 24 points and Saniyah Hall 20 points. Sienna Betts had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Round of 16: USA 122-57 China
Coming out of pool play, event announcers were promoting the USA as a super-juggernaut. I was skeptical given the struggles for over half the game vs a mid-pack Hungary. This would be the last game where the USA would really win big easily. For most of the game China struggled (much as Korea) to hold the middle together with the USA controlling the glass 67-30. While there were plenty of USA points to go around, Sienna Betts (21 points and 10 rebounds) and Saniyah Hall (19 points and 9 rebounds) were again the main focal points for the USA offense.
Quarterfinal: USA 70-65 France
France was a 20+ point underdog because of fat USA wins combined with a French loss to Australia. However, France was perhaps the toughest match-up possible for the USA in this U19. The French were athletic, had good size to counter the USA interior and on average was an older, perhaps more experienced team internationally. While the USA led for almost the entire game, the lead always felt tenuous, and the USA defense struggled against French slashing to the rim and pick and roll activity. USA rebounding edge was just 43-38 as opposed to the huge differential in other victories. The USA shot the ball a little better (FG: 28/65 vs 24/66). Saniyah Hall shined the brightest with 28 points and 6 rebounds. The other five underclass players scored zero points (no minutes for Bjorn or Douglas). For France, Nell Angloma (a strong penetrator) led with 20 points and 6 rebounds.
Semifinal: USA 70-58 Spain
I saw this contest a likely respite for the USA before the final. About half of this Spanish team will play in the USA this coming year at colleges ranging from modest Power 4 down but had no superstar players. After 3 quarters, the USA led 64-42 but the USA did not score again until 4:57 left in the game still up 66-49. Still Spanish never got closer than the final 12-point margin. While the USA quietly dominated in most categories, it lost the turnover battle. USA scoring was more balanced with Hall leading with 16 points and Jazzy Davidson and Jordan Lee with 15 each. Perhaps most important for the USA might have been that the non-starters got healthy minutes as in the final the starting five were going to have to log big minutes.
Gold Medal Game: USA 88-76 Australia
Again, the USA was a double digit (16-17 point) favorite. However, such a margin was only approached at the very end of the contest. The USA rode its starters heavily and only reserve Addison Bjorn made a solid contribution off the bench with DNP’s for Jerzy Robinson, Maddyn Greenway and Sydney Douglas. Sienna Betts logged about 39 of the 40 minutes with Jordan Lee the only starter logging less than 30 minutes (27:37 according to the box score). Saniyah Hall was strong again with 25 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists. Jazzy Davidson posted 21 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. In her heavy minutes, Sienna Betts had 11 points and 11 rebounds. The USA again dominated the glass 55-32. One quiet stat was the Australians (strong at the foul line) were held to just five attempts only making two. Australian scoring was balanced putting five players into double digits led by Bonnie Deas with 13 points.
Jazzy Davidson cooly stuffed the stat sheet at U19. Photo courtesy of USA Basketball.
3rd place game
Spain 70-68 Canada
Canada was favored in this game and the loss was so painful that it appeared they left before the awards ceremony. Conversely, Spain celebrated like they had won the event as seen by post-game locker room video. Up 66-60 with 4:28 left in the game, Canada could only muster two points the rest of the way. Somtochukwu-Blessed Okafor led Spain with 23 points on 9/13 from the field plus 11 rebounds. Syla Swords led Canada with 20 points and 8 rebounds. In watching Canada, the center position seems like a potential weakness and in this game, it was just weak enough when combined with subpar Canadian shooting (34.5%) from the field to Spain’s 47.5%.
The All-Star Five
Sienna Betts, 6-4, center, 2025, USA (UCLA)
Betts was the workhorse of the USA middle averaging 14.6 ppg on 58.7% from the field plus 10.0 rpg. Interestingly her playing time in year one at UCLA will depend on whether she can play with her sister Lauren or just back her up until she departs for the WNBA. Both are essentially low posts.
Bonnie Deas, 5-10, guard, Australia (University of Arkansas)
This future Razorback was the most consistently productive of a balanced Australia team loaded with future major D1 college players. She led her team scoring 12.3 ppg and in rebounding with 7.7 rpg.
Saniyah Hall, 6-1, forward, 2026, USA [MVP] (Spire Academy, OH; orally committed to Southern Cal)
Hall put down a marker as to being the best player in the 2026 class. She averaged 19.9 ppg on 52.6% from the field and 39.3% for 3’s plus 6.4 rpg. She posted double digits in every game and was MVP worthy.
The MVP of the 2025 U19 Women’s World Cup, Saniyah Hall. Photo courtesy of USA Basketball.
Somtochukwu-Blessed Okafor, 5-10, guard, Spain
Averaging a team leading 12.5 ppg and 6.5 rpg, Okafor (a University of Arizona commit) came up big in the third-place game with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
Syla Swords, 6-0, guard, Canada (University of Michigan)
Swords is well known in the USA from her successes at Michigan this year and Long Island Lutheran prior to that although her family is originally from Ontario. Swords led Canada in points at 15.9 ppg on 49.4% from the field and 43.6% for threes and in rebounding with 6.4 rpg.
The following official awards started in 2023 according to a FIBA press release.
Second Team All-tournament
Nell Angloma, 6-0, guard/forward, France
A quality slasher from the perimeter whose three-ball needs to be respected, she led France (loaded with players who could play in the Power 4 but tend not to come to the USA unless WNBA good) with 17.0 ppg on 44.1% from the field and 37.5% for threes plus 5.5 rpg.
Jazzy Davidson, 6-2, guard, 2025, USA (University of Southern California)
Davidson was the third member of the USA big three. She averaged 14.6 ppg on 58.6% from the field and 52.2% for 3’s. In addition, she posted 4.1 rpg, 3.9 apg and 3.0 steals per game. A true stat stuffer! In reality, she could easily have been picked as All-Star Five worthy. Adding in Davidson the year and Hall next year gets Southern Cal closer to being a Final Four team.
Avery Howell, 6-0, guard/forward, Canada (University of Wahington)
Transferring to Washington from Southern Cal, Howell averaged 14.1 ppg on 53.3% from the field and 48.6% for 3’s (shooting more of them than 2’s). She also contributed 3.4 rpg. In watching her, I felt more confident her threes would drop in than her mid-range shots.
Gal Raviv, 5-9, guard, Israel (University of Miami of Florida)
Relatively quiet versus the USA, Raviv averaged a team-leading 26.3 ppg and 6.2 rpg. She also posted 4.7 apg. While I think she will help Miami as an inbound via the portal with an all-around offensive game, she did not play the strongest of schedules at this event.
Clara Silva, 6-6, center, Portugal (Best Defensive Player) (Texas Christian University)
Look for Silva to step up at TCU after transferring from a backup role at Kentucky. Leading Portugal to a seventh-place finish, she led her team 23.0 ppg on 51.6% from the field plus 9.7 rpg and 2.9 blocks per game against a solid field of opponents.
Best Coach (official award)
Renae Camino, Australia
Taking a team with no superstar, she got contributions from a large number of her players in guiding them to silver medals. Particularly impressive was how she kept her team composted versus Hungary where they trailed for a good portion of the game before winning by six in overtime.
A look at the remaining nine members of the USA U-19 team...
Please note all the USA players were or likely will be McDonald’s All-Americans so take any commentary below in a constructive light. The team had too many (particularly young for U19) perimeter players. Productive interior depth in reality was lacking and in the final analysis the USA was pulled through by a couple of players. Do note Douglas, Hall, Harpring and Robinson are all age eligible to play U19 in 2027 having 2008 birthdays.
Addison Bjorn, 6-1, guard/forward, 2026 (Park Hill South HS, MO)
Bjorn played in six of the seven games. There never was enough time (10th in minutes) for her with a glut of wings. In averaging 6.0 ppg, she shot 76.5% from the field on the few shots taken. Foul shooting could have been better at 8/15 for the event. Overall, for the bench, she may have had the highest quality performance given her minutes.
Sydney Douglas, 6-6, center, 2028 (Corona Centennial HS, CA)
Douglas played in only four games as it seemed the coaches obviously felt this young player (only one year of high school ball) was not ready for this level of opposition. She scored only 7 points on 3/8 from the field. Hopefully, she will grow from this experience.
Maddyn Greenway, 5-8, point guard, 2026 (Providence Academy, MN)
Before discussing this event, it should be noted that Maddyn Greenway (verbally committed to Kentucky) is one of the top all-around athletes in high school today. Besides being Minnesota girls’ basketball player of the year in 2024-25, she is a multi-time Minnesota state champion in track and one of the top goal scorers in Minnesota high school soccer. As for this U19 team, she was a late addition to replace University of Florida point guard Liv McGill (also from Minnesota) who withdrew for personal reasons. Despite not being picked originally, Greenway jumped ahead of other guards as the primary backup to Kayleigh Heckel. Greenway was the team’s assist leader (4.5 per game but almost all before the quarterfinals) and did not shoot the ball well (31.8%) in scoring 3.3 ppg in averaging 14.3 minutes per game. What may have limited her playing time in the latter stages of the event was her current perceived shortcomings on positional defense rather than aiming for the steal. If you watched the speedy Greenway in high school, patience/deliberate play is not one of her strengths. The good news for Greenway is that it is easier to learn to slow down than it is to speed up.
Kate Harpring, 5-11, guard, 2026 (Marist School, GA)
Harpring received the most time (16.1 minutes per game) of all the non-starters (playing mostly a shooting guard role) averaging 8.3 ppg but shooting only 38.6% from the field making only 10 of 20 foul shots (a real negative for critical late game court time). Harpring always competes at a high level but like Greenway, her minutes were reduced in the semifinal and final where more experience was needed. One of the top high school players in the 2026 class, the over-riding long term question is whether she can best succeed as a point guard or shooting guard at the next level.
Kayleigh Heckel, 5-9, point guard, 2024 (University of Connecticut)
When Liv McGill withdrew from participation, this left Heckel as the only college experienced (at Southern Cal; now transferring to Connecticut) point guard. She logged the second most minutes (25.0 per game) to center Sienna Betts. In scoring 9.0 ppg on 47.8% percent from the field (a critical 80.0% from the foul line) with 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game countering 2.6 turnovers per game. Only real criticism might be her 27.3% (3/11) from behind the arc. Given the primary role at point, she got the job done!
Jordan Lee, 6-0, guard/forward, 2024 (University of Texas)
Over the course of the event, she settled into the primary role of on-ball defender doing a solid job. Given offensively, she is more small forward than point guard, credit the USA coaches with this deployment of personnel! In scoring 6.7ppg, she did not shoot the ball well at 35.7%, particularly bad at the three, making 2/12 over the event. Only Davidson (12/23) and Hall (11/28) shot the three above 31%.
Jerzy Robinson, 6-2, guard, 2026 (Sierra Canyon High School, CA)
Other than 2/8 for threes, Robinson shot the ball well 51.5% overall in scoring 7.7 ppg averaging just 12.8 minutes per game. She did not play in the final and only played 6 minutes in the semi vs Spain and 10 minutes in the quarterfinal vs France. My only guess is they looked at other perimeter players as better perimeter defenders in critical situations. From this writer’s perspective, Robinson remains one of the top 10 prospects in the 2026 class as a perimeter scorer with size. Exactly where in the top 10 depends on your tastes!
Emilee Skinner, 6-0, guard/forward, 2025 (Duke University)
Of all the US players, the handling of Skinner I most disagreed with. When Liv McGill withdrew from consideration, Maddyn Greenway was slotted as the backup point guard. This put Emilee Skinner in an oversized pool of wings consisting of Hall (call her a 3F or 4F), Lee (who got the majority of minutes outside of Hall), Bjorn, Robinson and Skinner (Harpring being slotted as the backup shooting guard). There was not enough time for all this quality. Skinner may have the appearance of a wing at a legit six-foot but mentally she is more PG than SF. When she got limited time at point later in the event, she seemed tentative as if trying not to make a mistake. Rather than challenging the defense, she passed off a dribble or two early starting the offense further out. As it turned out, her minutes and usefulness were very limited in the last two games. When “on her game,” she is a power point guard strong in transition with good court vision and ability to attack the rim off the bounce in the set offense. This was not seen here as she averaged 5.0 ppg on a decent 46.9 % from the field averaging 13.5 minutes per game. She was another who struggled from behind the arc at 1/7. Only five (making four) foul shot attempts showed very limited successful attacking of the rim.
Zania Socka, 6-3, power forward/center, 2024 (University of Indiana)
In games (Hungary, France, Spain and Australia) where the USA struggled to dominate easily, Socka played 7 or less minutes. While her 8/15 from the field does not look bad, in watching she struggled at times to finish in close and was not an attractive option to Betts. I must credit Coach Teri Moran for not overplaying Socka, who is transferring to her Indiana program after struggling to get playing time as a freshman at UCLA. In doing so, Coach Moran kept the objectives of these two coaching positions separate.
A few other young players I would expect American colleges to show interest in. Both are age- eligible for U19 in 2027.
Sitaya Fagin, 6-2, forward, Australia
Although one of its youngest players, Fagin is probably its best Australian recruit with a WNBA upside. It has been reported that she has over 10 US college offers. However, from a monetary viewpoint, not attending an American college might be the right move as foreign players can enter the WNBA a couple of years earlier (to my amazement) than players who go through the US college system where your class must have graduated, or the player must turn 22 in the year of the draft. As for Fagin’s game, she is a quality athlete who can shoot the three (36.8% in this event) or attack the rim (averaged 12.3 ppg on 44.3% from the field).
Madison Ryan, 6-1, small forward, Australia
Although she played limited minutes in Australia’s last two games, Ryan showed good mobility and an ability to knock down the three (9/15 from behind the arc) with a scoring average of 9.0 ppg shooting 61.1% from the field. It is easy to see this player in a major D1 program in the years ahead.