During their World Cup qualifying campaign in China, the Belgian Cats made a strong impression, dominating opponents with an average margin of 31 points, including a notable 80-65 victory over China. Their collective play was outstanding, evidenced by their average of 31.2 assists per game, setting a record of 40 against South Sudan in World Cup qualifying history. Neither the long journey nor the jet lag appeared to affect their performance.
Julie Allemand, formerly a point guard in the French league, was named the tournament’s MVP, highlighting her individual excellence. However, the team’s depth was also a crucial factor, with bench players contributing an average of 38 points per game, even amidst minor injuries to Billie Massey and Bethy Mununga.
Having previously secured two 4th-place finishes—at the 2018 World Cup in Tenerife and the 2024 Paris Olympics—Belgium is now setting its sights on a world podium finish in Berlin.
“We’ve shown we can beat everyone. We are no longer outsiders. If everyone is at their best level, we can dream big,” declared Julie Allemand.
Nevertheless, much like France, Belgium will have to contend with the constraints of the WNBA schedule, which could impact the length of their preparation time.
“If, before the World Cup, we can only train together for one week while other teams have six weeks, the difference will be noticeable,” Emma Meesseman warned.
