U19 Women’s World Cup: Your essential guide to the Australian Gems and the Group of Death

Drawn into a group with two fellow continental champions, the Gems face a tough road to gold at the FIBA U19 Women's World Cup, but their talented squad will be up for the fight.

All games of the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup will be streamed live on the FIBA YouTube channel.

Note: Australia’s opponents in Group C have not yet announced their finalised rosters. Preliminary squads can be found here.

Australia

FIBA World Ranking for Girls: 5

Qualifying route: Winners, 2024 FIBA U18 Women’s Asia Cup

Roster: Monique Bobongie, Emilija Dakic, Bonnie Deas, Sitaya Fagan, Sienna Harvey, Callie Hinder, Prasayus Notoa, Ruby Perkins, Manuela Puoch, Zara Russell, Madison Ryan, Monique Williams

Schedule
vs Mali: Saturday July 12, 7:15 PM AEST
vs Brazil: Sunday July 13, 10:00 PM AEST
vs France: Wednesday July 16, 4:15 AM AEST

The Gems come into this tournament as Asian champions once again, having claimed their second straight title at last year’s U18 Women’s Asia Cup. They’ll take plenty of confidence from that effort into the World Cup, and with six of the 12 players that lifted the trophy returning under head coach Renae Garlepp, who steps into the role after serving as an assistant last year. That group includes some of the best and brightest young talent in the country, while the additions feature familiar names on the national and international stage.

Perhaps the biggest talking point in the lead-in to the tournament, though, has been two of the names that aren’t there in Czechia.