{"id":86179,"date":"2026-09-04T17:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T17:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/86179\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T17:00:09","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T17:00:09","slug":"basketball-3-point-shooters-thrive-in-japan-womens-world-cup-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/japan\/86179\/","title":{"rendered":"Basketball: 3-Point Shooters Thrive in Japan Women’s World Cup Opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

In Berlin, Japan outscored Mali 31-24 in the decisive fourth quarter in the Group A opener of the 16-nation tournament.<\/p>\n

Coach Corey Gaines<\/a>‘ 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<\/a>, who drained 3 of 7 in a 10-point outing.<\/p>\n

In 1994, Japan drained 18 3-pointers against Kenya, and in 2022 Australia knocked down 18 versus Mali.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“Obviously I am happy but it is just my job to shoot,” Hayashi commented after the game.<\/p>\n

“It’s what we have to do to win: shoot when we are open. \u2026 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.”<\/p>\n

\"basketball\"Japan’s Kokoro Tanaka orchestrates the offense against Mali. (\u00a9FIBA)<\/p>\n

Second-Half Comeback for Japan<\/p>\n

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

Japan closed out the quarter with a 10-2 run.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

Moments later, a Konno pull-up 3 pulled Japan within four. And then it was a two-point game after Kokoro Tanaka<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\"basketball\"Japan guard Norika Konno looks to score against Mali in the teams’ FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup opener. (\u00a9FIBA)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

Aminata Sangare<\/a>‘s inside bucket with 1:05 left kept Mali’s hopes alive, cutting the lead to 98-95.<\/p>\n

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

For Mali, Sangare and Djeneba N’Diaye<\/a> finished with 22 points apiece in the group phase match.<\/p>\n

\"basketball\"Japan guard Saki Hayashi (\u00a9FIBA)<\/p>\n

Reflections on the Basketball Game<\/p>\n

Analyzing Japan’s come-from-behind victory, Coach Gaines spoke about the two teams’ contrasting styles of play.<\/p>\n

“We knew the game was going to be a physical game, physicality versus speed,” he told a news conference.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n


\n\"Japan<\/a>
\nNotable Numbers <\/p>\n

Japan recorded a 25-12 edge in fast-break points, utilizing its speed to generate scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n

Mali outrebounded Japan 42-29, including 15-6 on the offensive glass.<\/p>\n

Coach Gaines’ basketball squad trailed for 29:52 of the 40-minute game.<\/p>\n

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

Up Next<\/p>\n

Akatsuki Japan faces tourney host Germany in a Group A match on Saturday evening (1 AM JST on Sunday).<\/p>\n


\n\"Japan<\/a>
\nRELATED:<\/p>\n

Author: Ed Odeven<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow Ed’s [Japan Sports Notebook]<\/a> on Sundays, [Odds and Evens]<\/a> during the week, and he can be found on X (formerly Twitter) \uff20ed_odeven<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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