USA Women´s Basketball are looking to claim their 4th consecutive World Championship!!

The 2006 FIBA Women's World Championship tipped off Tuesday in Brazil as Sue Bird scored a game-high 20 points to lead the United States past China 119-72. Diana Taurasi and Tina Thompson each tallied 17 as the USA surpassed the former USA World Championship record of 109 points. Raising their international record to 43-0 since 1996, the top-seeded Americans (1-0) are looking for their third consecutive world title and fifth in the last six tournaments. The United States, which is also the reigning Olympic champion, surpassed the former USA World Championship record of 109 set in 1983.

Bird and Taurasi are used to meshing well together, having played as teammates at the University of Connecticut. They led the way in an easy triumph for Team USA, which shot 54 percent (48-of-89) from the floor, including 10-of-21 3-pointers. Sue Bird shot an amazing 8-of-10 in the game, including a pair of 3-pointers in the waning moments of the first half to help give the Americans a 62-34 advantage. She also finished with six assists.

In Other Games: The 2006 FIBA World Championship got started Tuesday afternoon as Spain defeated South Korea 87-57, France edged the Czech Republic 62-58, Brazil relied on a put-back from Helen with five seconds remaining to clip Argentina 71-69, Russia earned an 85-50 victory over Nigeria and Cuba took a 75-70 win over Taiwan. Lithuania, which is having travel difficulties, was unable to make it to the arena in time and thus Australia was awarded a 2-0 victory.

Prelimary Standings
Group A
Brazil 1-0
Spain 1-0
S. Korea 0-1
Argentina 0-1

Group B
Australia 1-0
Lithuania 0-1
Canada 1-0
Senegal 0-1

Group C
USA 1-0
Russia 1-0
China 0-1
Nigeria 0-1

Group D
Czech Rep. 0-1
France 1-0
Cuba 1-0
Chinese Taipai 0-1

SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
Sept. 12-14: Preliminary Round
Sept. 16-18: Second Round
Sept. 20: Quarterfinals
Sept. 22: Semifinals
September 23: Finals

FIBA WORLD RANKINGS
The following is a list of the top 40-ranked teams in the FIBA World Rankings for women.

Country

Pts.
1. United States 1130
2. Russia 843
3. Australia 760
4. Brazil 556
5. Cuba 317
6. Spain 309
7. France 287
8. Korea 284.9
9. China 251.5
10.Czech Republic 244
11. Japan 173.5
12. Lithuania 159
13. Poland 154
14. Slovakia 153
15. Canada 139
16. Argentina 132.4
17. Yugolavia 122
18. Senegal 116
19. New Zealand 112
20. Greece 88
21. Hungary 77
22. Nigeria 62
23. Germany 55
24. Chinese Taipei 52