At the Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin, the German national team secured an 83–58 victory over Mali in their final group stage fixture at the Uber Arena, finishing second in Group A and advancing to the tournament’s play-in round.
Germany Dominates Mali in Front of Home Crowds
Playing before an attendance of more than 12,500 fans in the German capital, head coach Olaf Lange’s squad established control early against a Malian side that had previously surprised Spain in group play. By halftime, Germany held a commanding 17-point lead, a margin they maintained through the second half to seal the win.
Frieda Bühner led the scoring for the German Basketball Federation (DBB) team with 21 points, including four successful three-pointers out of six attempts. Bühner currently plays professionally in the United States for the WNBA’s Portland Fire.
“Wenn du mal im Rhythmus bist, dann läuft es,” Bühner’s Portland teammate Luisa Geiselsöder noted after the match, describing how finding an early shooting groove carried her through the game. Geiselsöder contributed 17 points and earned player-of-the-match honors, noting in an interview with ProSieben Maxx that she relied on her instincts after experiencing some difficulties in the tournament’s opening fixtures.
Playmaker Alexis Peterson-Smalls returned to the lineup after missing the previous game against Japan due to illness, adding nine points and five assists to Germany’s offensive effort.
Standings Implications and Play-in Schedule
The path to the knockout stages required navigating a tight Group A. Following an opening defeat to Spain and a subsequent victory over Japan, Germany entered the final group match with every position from first to fourth mathematically possible. Because Spain defeated Japan concurrently, Germany secured second place in the final standings.
That placement means Germany missed out on direct qualification for the quarterfinals. Instead, the team faces a win-or-go-home play-in match on Tuesday at 20.45 local time in the Uber Arena against South Korea, where a victory is required to reach the tournament’s top eight.
A win against South Korea would set up a quarterfinal matchup on Thursday against European champion Belgium, led by star player Emma Meesseman, who finished as the winner of Group C.
Fan Support and Tournament Atmosphere
The event underlined local enthusiasm for the women’s national program.
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