THE AUSTRALIAN Gems left the 2025 FIBA Under-19 World Cup with a silver medal, after falling to the defending champions in the United States, who were always going to be tough to stop after a dominant tournament.

The Gems put together their most complete performance of the World Cup when they defeated Canada on Friday night, booking a spot in the gold medal game against a United States team that was looking for its 11th title.

The USA were the toughest assignment in the tournament, having been dominant in Switzerland over the past week and continuing to be the powerhouse of global basketball. However, the Aussies had shown grit and determination throughout the World Cup, and if any side was going to be capable of pulling off an upset, it was the Australians.

Although the Gems did a good job to keep the match tight, the United States broke away in the fourth frame, getting the job done by 12 points in a clinical display from the reigning champs.

USA (88) def. Australian Gems (76)

It was a tight start to the contest, with the Australians able to match the offensive production of the United States and keep things close in the first 10 minutes of play. Once again, it was the team play of the Aussies that proved a winning formula, and at the conclusion of the first frame, the Gems trailed by just three points in a promising start to the gold medal match.

The second frame saw the United States begin to really show why they were title favourites throughout the tournament, putting the foot down as the Aussies fell behind on the scoreboard. The USA were able to maintain their output on the scoring front, and took a 10-point buffer into the main change as the task got taller for the Aussies.

Showing the Aussie spirit that has been on display throughout the entire tournament, the Gems dragged themselves back into the contest through sheer defensive effort. The United States were held to just 14 points in the third frame, and it allowed Australia to cut the margin back to single digits and snatch momentum from the favourites. Heading into the fourth period, it was just a six-point contest and certainly game on.

When Bonnie Deas banked in a long-range bomb to cut the margin back to four points, it looked as it the Aussies were going to pull off the comeback and remarkably overrun the USA. However, the latter produced a tournament-defining 12-2 run in the closing minutes of the match, snatching back control of the game and holding in for a 12-point triumph to claim gold once again.

As she had done all tournament, Deas led the way for the Australians, posting a team-high 13 points and playing a crucial role in dragging the Aussies back into the contest in the second half. She was also named to the FIBA Under-19 All-Star Five for her excellent tournament with the Gems over the past week.

Also catching the eye for the Aussies were Monique Bobongie (11 points, four rebounds, five assists), Sitaya Fagan (10 points, two rebounds) and Manuela Puoch (10 points, three rebounds), as the trio rounded out the double-digit scorers for the silver medalists.

For the United States, Saniyah Hall was simply dominant for the winning side, leading all-comers on the scoring front with a game-high 25 points on 8/16 shooting from the field, while also stuffing the stat sheet with nine rebounds and seven assists. Also impressing was Jasmine Davidson, who had 21 points of her own, nailing eight of her 16 attempts from the field.