Sticking to the plan too closely? Analysing what went wrong for the Gems in Spain

After entering the U19 FIBA Women's World Cup as a podium threat, the Australian Gems registered their lowest finish in the event's history.

Image credit: FIBA

Things didn’t go to plan for the Australian Gems at the 2023 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup in Spain. A ninth-placed finish – the worst ever result for Australia at the tournament – came after strong warmup games.

The Gems entered the tournament as the number three ranked team in the world, behind USA (1) and France (2), while hosts Spain were ranked fourth. Those three nations all played off for medals, with USA claiming gold in a nail-biting final against Spain, while France were beaten by Canada in the bronze medal game.

Where did it all go so wrong for the Gems?