China, Australia seal spots in quarterfinals at FIBA Women's World Cup

Han Xu tallied 21 points and 11 rebounds as China survived a tense finish to defeat Puerto Rico 75-72, while Australia edged Italy 82-80 to reach the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup quarterfinals in Berlin on Wednesday.

China will face France in the last eight on Thursday, after emerging victorious in a game featuring 22 lead changes and decided only in the closing minutes.

Pamela Rosado brought Puerto Rico level at 66-66 with 3:38 remaining, but Han answered with a step-back three-pointer 42 seconds later. The Chinese ladies then reeled off a 6-0 run to move in front 72-66 with 1:40 left, establishing their largest lead of the contest.

Han shot 9-of-18 from the field, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, while Yang Shuyu added 15 points and a game-high 11 assists. Zhang Ziyu contributed 13 points in just over nine minutes off the bench.

Puerto Rico's Trinity San Antonio led all scorers with 24 points while also recording nine rebounds, seven assists and five steals. The Caribbean side had briefly taken its largest lead at 55-52 early in the fourth quarter, before China regained control to advance to the quarterfinals.

In the day's other qualification contest, Isobel Borlase scored 30 points as Australia got past Italy to set up a meeting with Spain in the last eight.