Basketball: 3-Point Shooters Thrive in Japan Women’s World Cup Opener

Veteran shooting guard Saki Hayashi sparked Japan with a game-high 27 points, including a FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup record nine 3-pointers, in a 102-97 victory over Mali on Friday, September 4.

In Berlin, Japan outscored Mali 31-24 in the decisive fourth quarter in the Group A opener of the 16-nation tournament.

Coach Corey Gaines‘ squad sank 20 of 35 3-point attempts, setting a single-game record for the event. Eight Akatsuki Japan players had at least one 3-pointer in the win, including backup point guard Mai Yamamoto, who drained 3 of 7 in a 10-point outing.

In 1994, Japan drained 18 3-pointers against Kenya, and in 2022 Australia knocked down 18 versus Mali.

Hayashi broke the Women’s Basketball World Cup single-game record of eight 3s, set by Cuba’s Gricel Herrera Mendez against Slovakia in 1998. South Korea’s Yeon Ha Beon matched the mark in 2002 against France.

On Friday, after missing her first two 3-point shots at Berlin Arena, the 31-year-old Hayashi made 9 of her next 13 long-range attempts.

“Obviously I am happy but it is just my job to shoot,” Hayashi commented after the game.

“It’s what we have to do to win: shoot when we are open. … Corey said in the locker room it’s a given, it’s expected, that I was going to hit that many 3s. However, I made nine but I air-balled my first two, so that’s something I have to go back and work on.”

Second-Half Comeback for Japan

On Friday, Mali led 71-61 with 3:05 to play in the third quarter after Sanou Fatoumata made a pair of free throws.

Japan closed out the quarter with a 10-2 run. 

After Yamamoto blocked Fatoumata’s layup attempt at the 2:46 mark, Norika Konno knocked down a 3 to cut it to 71-64, with Rui Machida registering the assist.

Moments later, a Konno pull-up 3 pulled Japan within four. And then it was a two-point game after Kokoro Tanaka converted a layup with 1:05 remaining in the third. In her World Cup debut, Tanaka contributed 18 points and seven assists in Japan’s comeback victory.

Hayashi scored 15 points in the second half. She made 3s on consecutive Japan possessions in the final period to give Japan an 87-85 advantage. Teammate Ramu Tokashiki then connected on a long-range shot to stretch the lead to five, prompting Mali to call a timeout with 3:52 remaining.

Mali trimmed the lead to 93-91 with 2:05 left. Japan responded with a Hayashi 3-pointer at the 1:47 mark.

Aminata Sangare‘s inside bucket with 1:05 left kept Mali’s hopes alive, cutting the lead to 98-95.

With 48 seconds left, Maki Takada, who had a 14-point performance, canned Japan’s 20th 3-pointer of the game, doubling its lead.

For Mali, Sangare and Djeneba N’Diaye finished with 22 points apiece in the group phase match.

Reflections on the Basketball Game

Analyzing Japan’s come-from-behind victory, Coach Gaines spoke about the two teams’ contrasting styles of play.

“We knew the game was going to be a physical game, physicality versus speed,” he told a news conference.

He said he “wasn’t expecting” Mali, which relies on a strong inside game, to make nine 3-pointers. At the same time, Gaines noted that his team’s 20 3s probably surprised Mali.

Asked why he didn’t take a timeout with his team trailing by 10 points in the third quarter, Gaines commented on his leadership approach.

“As long as they (the players) believe, I believe,” Gaines said after the basketball match. “And as long as I give them the calmness to know that I am behind them, I think they can do anything. I know sometimes, maybe I should take a timeout, but that’s just not me. That’s not my coaching style.”

Gaines, a proponent of a run-and-gun offense, pointed out that Japan missed opportunities to take 3-point attempts during the 40-minute game. He noted players were open beyond the arc on several occasions, saying his team should’ve taken its target of 41 3-point shots, not 35.

“The theory I was taught a long time ago [was] the more you take, the more you make,” said Gaines, a WNBA title-winning head coach with the Phoenix Mercury in 2009.

Notable Numbers

Japan recorded a 25-12 edge in fast-break points, utilizing its speed to generate scoring opportunities.

Mali outrebounded Japan 42-29, including 15-6 on the offensive glass.

Coach Gaines’ basketball squad trailed for 29:52 of the 40-minute game.

Japan had five double-digit scorers: Hayashi (27 points), Tanaka (18), Takada (14), Konno (11) and Yamamoto (10).

Up Next

Akatsuki Japan faces tourney host Germany in a Group A match on Saturday evening (1 AM JST on Sunday).

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Author: Ed Odeven

Follow Ed’s [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.