China vs Mali, FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament, Today Match Prediction

China vs Mali Basteball Odds

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China

China Women, who were the favorites to win the FIBA Women's Asia Cup, were eliminated by Japan Women 90–81 in a semifinal clash—an upset that no one expected. The host nation will look to put that loss behind them as they return to action for these World Cup qualifiers.

In their last five matches, China Women averaged 93.6 points per game, shooting with an efficiency of 50.9% from the field and 34.5% from three-point range. They made 40 three-pointers during those five matches, averaging 8 per game. They are also one of the best teams in terms of ball movement and court rotation, as evidenced by their 30 assists per game.

On the defensive end, China boasts a towering trio that is difficult for any opponent to bypass in these qualifiers. This is especially true with the return of Yueru Li, the most senior player in the squad, who can create offensive threats while remaining lethal on the defensive end.

Mali

Mali Women were one of the most dominant sides in the FIBA Women's AfroBasket, where they reached the finals before falling to Nigeria Women 64–78. They are a highly underrated and skilled team that looks to play a slow-paced, defensive-oriented game.

In their last eight matches, Mali Women scored 71.2 points per game on the offensive end while allowing 59.6 points per game on the defensive end. Their field goal efficiency during this period was 40.2%, and from long range, they managed a struggling 22.2%.

On the boards, they grabbed 45.8 rebounds per game, consisting of 29.8 defensive rebounds and 16.0 offensive rebounds. They averaged 9.2 steals per game but blocked just one shot per game. Furthermore, they were one of the most disciplined teams regarding ball security, recording the third-fewest turnovers at 14.4 per game.

China vs Mali Starting Lineups

China vs Mali Match Prediction & Analysis

China Women battle out against Mali Women in the first round of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament 2026. The venue for this Group A clash is Wuhan Sports Centre, People 's Republic of China (CHN) and the scheduled start time is 5:00 PM IST. 

This is going to be a highly defensive physical matchup between the two best sides from Asia and Africa. While China Women has the home court advantage, Mali Women are not to be taken lightly as they are an elite defensive unit.  

China vs Mali Player Stats

CHINA vs MALI
Winning Prediction

The odds are heavily in favour of China Women to win this fixture and we back them to do so against a side that has struggled on the offensive end off-late. We predict a dominant win for China Women in this first round clash and back them to cover the spread (-27.5)

China Women to win and cover the spread (-27.5)

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