Han Xu and the Comeback: China Survive in Overtime, Australia Win with Physicality

When the game went to overtime, the script Czech Republic had followed for more than three quarters began to crack. They had outplayed China for long stretches, but Han Xu refused to let her team leave that way. She finished with 22 points, including several decisive plays around the rim. The Chinese women left with a victory, but this comeback was not built on luck. Numbers are silent, but the story never is. Before the game, the question was whether China had enough depth after constant rotation. In the second game, Zhang Ziyu, a 2m21 center, scored only 3 points. She almost disappeared against a packed defense. The contrast with Han Xu exposed a structural issue: China has not yet found a reliable way to feed the post and use its biggest advantage. Czech Republic was eliminated after two losses. They led, missed crucial free throws, and then lost control in overtime. Joklová missed from the line at the worst time, a small detail that separated a team that knows how to win from one still learning to win. At the same time, Australia produced a completely different performance. Turkey opened with an 8-0 run, pushing Australia into chase mode. But Australia did not panic. They increased physical pressure and used drives to stretch the defense. Ezi Magbegor scored 21 points and became the anchor near the rim while younger teammates settled into the rhythm. Sevgi Uzun scored 24 points for Turkey, more than anyone else on the floor. That effort was not enough to prevent her team from losing. Turkey showed diverse offensive options, but their defense at key moments revealed a gap in physical endurance. Australia arrived with seven World Cup debutants. That youth movement carries risk, but it also brings energy. Captain Sami Whitcomb withdrew with a knee injury, forcing the coaching staff to use multiple options. Goksen Fitik, a Turkish player, hurt her ankle during the game but later returned, showing that both medical teams worked under heavy pressure. In Group D, China's victory opened a direct race with Italy. The second-place team will face a tougher opponent in the knockout round. Australia, after winning with physicality, still has not secured the top spot. They will meet Belgium in the final group games to decide the position. The United States has its own curve. They have not lost in knockout rounds since the 2026 semifinal. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers are expected to extend that streak. Their game against Italy will show how alert the Americans are when the opponent has nothing to lose. The Group D race has many layers. China showed the ability to come back, Australia showed muscular power, but neither proved sustainability. The reliance on Han Xu and Magbegor during the group stage forces the coaching staff to ask whether they are spending too much energy too early. From the games I watched, Australia's opening ten minutes lacked patience. They shot quickly and turned the ball over too often, but when they switched to pressure defense, everything changed. Physical conditioning helped them maintain intensity in the final quarter. That does not show up on the box score, but it leaves a direct mark on the result. China offered the opposite answer. They did not win with physicality but by exploiting mistakes. The three-pointers kept them close when Czech Republic led; the free throws in overtime sealed the game. This team has tactical discipline, but that will not be enough if Zhang Ziyu continues to be a spectator. Looking at the sequence of games, China's victory may be hiding a flaw. The 2m21 center touched the ball only a few times in scoring areas. It could be rotation management or a matchup issue, but for a team aiming to go deep, the opportunity cost of such an influential player is too high. Australia does not face the same problem because Magbegor moves well and can create her own shot. But their physical style carries an injury risk. Goksen Fitik's ankle and Sami Whitcomb's knee are reminders that the more intense the group stage, the more fragile the knockout round becomes. Czech Republic has already said goodbye. Their second loss meant they no longer controlled their own fate. The fairy tale for an underdog usually ends this way: enough ability to surprise, not enough strength to sustain it. Italy still controls its own destiny. China understands that the group stage does not award medals, but the second-place spot can lead to a difficult bracket. Someone will pay for every minute of energy spent in overtime. The most important thing about this day was not that a team won in overtime. It was how the women's teams used physicality, height and roster depth to handle pressure. Australia found order in the wreckage of the first half; China found victory while its starting center disappeared. Both are building for bigger games. Next, Australia face Belgium. The winner will almost certainly take the top spot and receive a better draw. Italy still have games against both China and the United States to decide the standings. The United States are waiting ahead as a test for both.