Belgium W vs Japan W

Belgium set the tempo from the opening quarter, leaning on the experience of their WNBA and EuroLeague stars. Emma Meesseman, the veteran Fenerbahce forward and the team's long-time anchor, orchestrated much of the visitors' offence. Julie Allemand and Julie Vanloo (New York Liberty) provided creative ball-handling alongside her, while Kyara Linskens added interior presence.

Japan — renowned for their three-point shooting and fast transition game — stayed within striking distance throughout. Quick ball movement and off-ball screens generated open looks from deep, keeping the scoreboard tight. The Akatsuki Japan women's side, preparing for their own World Cup campaign, pushed Belgium into the final minutes.

Neither side could establish a double-digit lead. The margin swung between two and eight points across the second half, with Japan closing to within a single possession on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter. But Belgium held firm at the defensive end and converted free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

With Japan trailing by three and under two minutes to play, Belgium's veteran spine — likely featuring Meesseman and Allemand — executed a composed half-court set to extend the lead back to five. Japan called timeout but could not convert on the ensuing possession, and Belgium's subsequent score effectively put the game out of reach. The exact sequence is unconfirmed from available data, but the pattern mirrored Belgium's strength in close games: controlled execution under pressure.

• Emma Meesseman (Belgium W) — The 33-year-old forward remains Belgium's most influential player. Her ability to score inside, stretch the floor, and facilitate from the high post makes her the focal point of the Cats' offence. Likely player of the match.

• Julie Allemand (Belgium W) — The 30-year-old point guard's playmaking and defensive pressure disrupted Japan's rhythm. Her experience at the highest level (WNBA, EuroLeague) is invaluable in tight friendlies.

• Japan's guard corps — Japan's strength lies in its perimeter shooting. The guards consistently created separation off screens and knocked down timely threes, though the exact statistical breakdown of individual scoring was not available in match data. Japan's three-point volume kept them competitive deep into the fourth.

A 89-85 final scoreline means a combined 174 points — slightly above the 157.0 average across the previous six meetings between these sides (per betmana.co.uk H2H data). This points to an open, transition-heavy game rather than a half-court grind, which aligns with both teams' identities: Belgium's versatile offence and Japan's speed-and-space approach.

Both sides scored in every meeting of this rivalry (100% BTTS rate), so the high-scoring nature is consistent with the historical pattern. What the four-point margin tells us is that neither team dominated — this was a genuine 50-50 contest decided in the final minutes.

For Belgium, this result is a valuable marker ahead of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026, taking place in Berlin, Germany, from September. Coach Mike Thibault's squad — featuring a core of players who have been together since the Tokyo 2020 cycle — will take confidence from beating a quality Asian side in a competitive environment.

Japan, under coach Toru Onzuka (since 2023), continue their own World Cup preparation. Despite the loss, staying within four points of a top European side in a road-friendly suggests their transition game and perimeter shooting are tournament-ready. Japan also plays South Korea (4 September 2026) as part of their build-up.

Belgium's next friendlies include Turkey W (4 September 2026) and Puerto Rico W (6 September 2026) — both tests that will help Thibault finalise his World Cup roster.

A close, high-quality friendly that told both teams more about their squads than the scoreline suggests. Belgium's composure in the closing stages against a dangerous Japan side is a positive sign, while Japan's ability to hang with a top-10 FIBA-ranked team on European soil confirms they remain a threat in Berlin. The narrow margin means the real verdict comes at the World Cup itself.

Statistics sourced from betmana.co.uk match data (provider: api-sports.io). H2H data from betmana.co.uk head-to-head widget.