Mali produced one of the tournament's earliest surprises at the Women’s Basketball World Cup on Saturday, beating Spain 82-73 in a result that few expected. The victory marked only the second World Cup win in Mali's history.
Djeneba Koné led Mali with a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, anchoring a balanced team performance that outpaced Spain across several stretches of the game. Mali managed to sustain offensive pressure and convert key opportunities down the stretch to hold off a late Spanish charge.
The triumph improves Mali's all-time World Cup record to 2-10; their only previous victory came in an overtime win against Senegal at the 2010 tournament. The result represents a notable milestone for the West African side in an event traditionally dominated by established basketball powers.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Hungary held off Nigeria in a close contest, prevailing 71-67 to claim a long-awaited win. Both results will shape the early standings and group dynamics as the competition progresses into its next round of games.