Belgian Cats Beat Australia 80-68 to Win Group C at FIBA World Cup
The Belgian Cats delivered their most complete performance of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 on Monday, defeating world No. 3 Australia 80-68 at the Uber Arena in Berlin. Emma Meesseman led the scoring with 22 points as Belgium secured first place in Group C with a perfect 3-0 record and a direct ticket to the quarterfinals.
The victory was especially meaningful given the context. Australia had beaten Belgium 85-81 in the bronze medal match at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the matchup was widely framed as a chance for revenge. As Sporza noted at the April draw, the group-stage clash was seen as an opportunity to settle an old score.
Dominant From the Start
Belgium controlled the game from the opening tip, racing to a 23-17 lead after the first quarter. The Cats extended their advantage to as many as 12 points in the second period before Billie Massey’s buzzer-beating three-pointer sent Belgium into halftime with a 40-33 lead.
Kyara Linskens was dominant in the paint, finishing with 12 points and contributing heavily on the boards, while Julie Vanloo and Julie Allemand each added 12 and 11 points respectively. Antonia Delaere contributed 11 points and anchored the defensive effort that was notably sharper than in previous matches.
Allemand Makes History
During the second half, Julie Allemand etched her name into FIBA Women’s World Cup history by becoming the All-Time Assists Leader with 109 career assists and counting. The record was confirmed by FIBA officials during the match.
Australia fought back in the third quarter, outscoring Belgium 22-20 to trim the deficit to 60-55 entering the final period. But the Cats responded with their strongest quarter of the game, winning the fourth 20-13 to seal an emphatic victory.
Revenge and Redemption
Julie Vanloo, who scored 12 points in the win, acknowledged the emotional weight of the matchup. “There were doubts among the media, but not with us,” she told VTM NIEUWS after the match, as reported by Het Laatste Nieuws. “The motivation for that extra rest was great, but also because there were some feelings of revenge. In the past, we have been narrowly defeated by Australia a few times.”
The victory came despite significant scheduling challenges. Belgium had played Puerto Rico on Sunday evening and faced Australia just 16 hours later on Monday morning, a schedule that drew criticism from players. Emma Meesseman had publicly questioned the timing, telling HLN that she didn’t know “at what professional level you still get such situations.”
Golden Generation’s Last Dance?
The win carries deeper significance for a Belgian squad that has established itself as Europe’s dominant force. With back-to-back European Championship titles in 2023 and 2025, the Cats have already cemented their legacy on the continent. But a world medal has remained elusive, with fourth-place finishes at the 2018 World Cup and near-misses at recent Olympics.
As Sporza reported ahead of the tournament, this could be the final World Cup for several members of the “golden generation” - Meesseman (33), Vanloo (33), Delaere (32), and Allemand are all over 30, with only Linskens (29) younger. “This could be our last World Cup,” Delaere said. “We’ve already won the European Championship twice. We are the best team in Europe. Then the next step is the World Cup.”
The team’s emotional journey has been well-documented. Vanloo lost her godfather just before the tournament, and Meesseman’s decision to give her MVP trophy to her grieving teammate after the opening match against Turkey was widely praised as a class act, as HLN reported.
What’s Next
Belgium now advances directly to the quarterfinals scheduled for Thursday, giving the squad two valuable days of rest. Their opponent will be determined by the barrage match between the second-place team from Group A (Germany, Japan, Mali, or Spain) and the third-place team from Group B (Hungary or South Korea).
Coach Mike Thibault gave the team the afternoon off following the match, with players celebrating at the Belgian House before turning their attention to recovery. As Sportactua noted, Belgium remains unbeaten and is now positioned as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders heading into the knockout stage.
“This was the most important match of the tournament, certainly with an eye on what follows,” Vanloo said. “I hope we can keep growing.”
For a team chasing its first world medal, the path forward looks increasingly promising. The Cats have answered their critics in emphatic fashion - and the dream of completing the golden generation’s legacy with a World Cup medal is very much alive.