Basketball
Was that Queen Emma’s best game at the World Cup?
BERLIN (Germany) - With direct qualification to the Quarter-Finals on the line against an undefeated Australia, Emma Meesseman did not disappoint.
22 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and a 33 efficiency rating.
Bouncing back from a rare mediocre performance against Puerto Rico (6 points, 5 rebounds, 6 efficiency), the Cats' leader was superb.
"We knew that it was for the lead of the group. We wanted to go to the Quarterfinals straight away", said Emma Meesseman after the game.
"It's the game that everybody puts on the calendar as the biggest game of our group. You're a little bit tired after the first two games but, on the [other] hand, we knew that we needed the previous two games to grow in the tournament. "I think today was our best game in until now, in terms of our team our connection and rhythm."
Where does her performance rank among her previous great Women's World Cup games?
The answer is simple: numbers-wise, this was her best World Cup game ever. Which says a lot, considering the level of play Meesseman brings every single game.
And the previous best? Her first game in this World Cup - a performance that could end up being her best ever. Still, having seen her play in three World Cups and witnessing her continue to churn out head-turning performances - we'll keep a focused eye on her every time she takes the court.
Emma Meesseman Top 3 World Cup games
|
Rank |
Game (Year) |
Min |
Pts |
FG |
Rbd |
Ast |
Stl |
Blk |
Eff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
32 |
22 |
10-18 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
33 | |
|
2 |
31 |
27 |
12-21 |
9 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
31 | |
|
3 |
21 |
16 |
7-12 |
14 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
30 |
Was this her best game on the global stage?
Not so fast! Olympic Emma has another gear.
In Tokyo in 2021, she played four games and never posted an efficiency rating below thirty: 39, 41, 30 and 38. To this day, that remains her most efficient FIBA event, with a 37.0 efficiency average.
At Paris 2024, she delivered another 40-efficiency masterclass against Japan, followed by a 32-efficiency performance in the Quarter-Final win over Spain.
FIBA
