By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Antwerp, among the 2024 FIBA Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, proudly created a new national record on Thursday.
A sold-out Sportpaleis featured 13,700 spectators for the game between the United States and Belgium. The attendance set a new record for women’s team sports, as confirmed by FIBA.
With time running out, Breanna Stewart’ tipped in the winning bucket sending the United States to an 81-79 victory versus the hosts. The Cats led for over 34 minutes but surrendered at the last second and dropped to 0-1 in the four-team group. However, the attendance secured a place in the record books for the fans, basketball, Belgium, and Antwerp.
“I want to congratulate the Belgian national team and the community here. This environment was just outstanding and congrats to them for a record crowd in any female team sport,” noted the head coach of USA, Cheryl Reeve, “I have followed the growth of Belgium basketball and the passion and adulation this country has for them.”
The previous record in women’s team sports was set by 9,027 fans in attendance at Standard Liege in a soccer game.
Similar crowds are expected at Sportpaleis with Belgium taking on Senegal on Friday and Nigeria on Sunday. French Rachid Meziane and his players are looking to clinch a berth in the Olympic Games for the second time in national team history.
Hungary’s Sopron, Brazil’s Belem, and China’s Xi An are the hosting cities for the remaining three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL