Italy vs Australia - FULL GAME HIGHLIGHTS | September 9, 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup

Live in Berlin you're watching coverage of the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup on TNT Sports. There's one ticket left for the quarterfinals. Who's gonna get it? Australia, two and one out of group C. Italy, one and two out of group D. They battle for the final spot and a date with Spain would be next for the winner. Sandy's been at the helm for Australia since 2017. She was very honest about Australia's last game against Belgium. They were clearly the better team and we went away from what our identity is. Let's see how they respond. Isabel Bourne, 34, in green, toss in the paint. McVigor backs it home. Can they create some turnovers, points off of turnovers, make it a possession game? Makes it rain. Italy leads by three. Of course they had the United States on the ropes in their middle game of group stage competition. Rack attack by Stephanie Talbot shooting, leading rebounder as well for Australia. On the kick out, back inside. Footwork, Kubai, reverse, trickles off the iron, grabs it back and scores. Scans the defense. Down one, two and a half minutes in. The winner faces Spain in the quarters on Thursday. Stop and start, Alex Wilson, no. The clean up by Ayokosu. Five opals have scored. Zandilassini, 0 for one from the floor, two of two at the line, hangs in traffic and scores. On the flip back to Stephanie Reed who runs the point, zigzags, flips it over the shoulder, swing it, four lays. Into the paint, fake one way, now you see me, now you don't. The plane that Australia's missing but the type of leadership she brings to the table. Italy, a takeaway, Andre floats it home, the captain. Which has resulted in a basket or a trip to the line. Isabel Borley is the leader in scoring right now, there she is again with the drive to the rim. Into the post, Ole Miss Andre, the captain spray it out, Paza rattles in a three in this FIBA World Cup. One ticket left for the quarters, it's going to go to one of these two, great spin by Andre. They have rekindled the fire in the paint. Eight point game, no look dish from Wilson inside for Fowler. Everyone so pulled up and focused on the ball. Big part of the set and how Australia runs. Nice flick of the wrist by Andre for the Opals. Still zoned by Italy, Talbot connects. That's what you love three point shooter, she's not shot the ball as well as you would anticipate through the course of the first season here with the Las Vegas Aces and the WNBA, just to feel you at all points. I'll tell you who's happy, Xanda Lucini got the call, it was controversy a couple days ago. And Verona scoops it in, Fowler finds Reed, they work the perimeter, Borley is back in the game, puts the head down, attacks the basket, score and a foul. Isabel Borley, three minutes to go in the half. Verona, tight window, picked off. Fowler up to Reed, looks for the trailer, Talbot, extra, Borley's, hot hand, it is red hot, 20 first half points. Pester today on the Italy side, shot clock to three, Verona almost banked it in, offensive rebound. Down the runway, Villa, cut the hoop, bust the heart, back up top, Borley's, push pass, Reed, deep paint position, Bibby attacks, Borley's, try to keep it up with her. The game spotted in the tunnel, walking on her own power, but we've watched her on the bench in a warm up putting. Villa, splits the defense and lays it in, including Borley's, who has 23 points, carves out space, is denied at the rim. 44% shooting, Ayokuso, looks for Borley's, who gets a second half start, Wilson, back to Ayokuso, two player game to perfection, a chance for three at the strike. Two aces on the USA team, in Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, Asia Wilson, who is not playing for the United States in this tournament, got a sacrifice, pawn rattles home a triple. Ayokuso has filled it up on the glass, rewarded for it, what a dish to Wilson, reverses it up and in. Here for Australia is, stagnate them somewhere, the ball was not moving, passing, bodies cutting, the same way Australia has done a really nice job of that. Italy only shot 31% in that game, and made two three-pointers, so there's a path, even if you don't convert offensively, to give the United States a home. Stephanie Reed, Borley's, back to Reed, back to Borley's, a three, 27 points for Australia. Kubai is doubled, Verona, deep in the paint, wiggled in there for two. This game leading Italy in assists per game, she's got two of them today. Skip pass, Vittoria Blasig, a three, maybe to trigger it in, in the hands of Borley's, they added some time to the clock, Borley's, scampers by, finds the shooter, tailback for three, exclamation point to end the third. They're in a zone defense to open it up in the fourth, shot clock winding down for Vittoria Blasig, tees one up and hits. To get quick baskets at the other end. Shot clock down to five for Borley's, deep in the paint, once again, for the remainder of this World Cup, and Eze Magbogor went down in the first quarter. Verona. You can take and again we'll continue to monitor that Eze Magbogor has been on the bench. And a steal, Blasig for two, quarterfinal qualifier, a 10-2 run to open the fourth. Wilson, the dish, and Iacuzzo. Italy averages 55 points per game so far at this 2026 World Cup, they've surpassed it, down 14. Verona, cash, by 12. Blasig, getting a lot of burn in this fourth quarter. Pass inside, Andre, turns left and flips it home, 10-4. Verona, head of steam, slows it down, deflection divvy, pass to Andre, lays it in. Brondello's opals, Magbogor left in the first quarter, and Atlanta Smith ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Kubai, back to her left side, and banks it in with the right. High ball screen, Iacuzzo, Talbot to Bibby, drives, flicks it up and in, plus a foul. Huge basket for Australia. Inside four minutes to go, Zandolissini fires and hits. Lane breaks down for Zandolissini. Verona, maintains a right-hand dribble, twisting into the paint, reverse layup. At this 2026 FIBA World Cup, the pedigree of Australia. Italy's back in this for the first time in nearly 30 years. Blasig, banks it in. Verona has 20 points, sets up shot, couple of screens, Blasig with five, back to Verona, peeks at the clock, Verona fires, oh yeah, we're tied! Australia's lead was 17 points, with eight and a half to go. The last seven minutes have stunned the Opals. Italy's got momentum, Borlase, high off the window, no good. Cleaned up by Iacuzzo, outlet Wilson, three in the air, no. Verona wisely lays off. Verona has been sensational, 23 points, uses a screen, absorbs, no whistle. Borlase stops on the brakes, Iacuzzo lays it in. Australia in front by two, timeout Italy. Allows the ball to trickle, she picks it up. Italy down by two. Verona to Zandolissini, drives, fadeaway jumper, off the iron, no good. Stays with Italy, last touched by Fowler. Initial decision is overturned, it will be a green ball on the baseline with 11.1, thank you. The officials get this one right, 11.1 to go. Into Talbot, Italy fouls. Australia has just two points since the four minute mark. Not over the limit yet, Wilson wrapped up, looking, looking, back to Blazic with seven, deep triple, swish, one point came, 0.1 to go and Borlase is fouled right away by Verona. Borlase misses the first, makes the second, 14 and 16. No timeout for Italy, Pazza speeds ahead, flips it, misses. Australia is off to the quarters. Italy inches away from forcing overtime. What a thriller in this quarterfinal qualifier.