(Beijing, April 26) - China made a historic breakthrough by defeating the USA with the score 84:81. The exciting tournament which was full of surprises concluded with a pitched battle between the USA and China. Miao Lijie and her teammates really picked up at the first quarter during which the team had once a biggest lead of 12 points thanks to its own excellent performance and the US turnovers. Lisa Leslie was not in her condition at all, commiting several turnovers just at the first quarter. With deafening cheering, China finished the first half with 47:39. The close score continued to the end until Chen Xiaoli nailed down the victory by scoring one point of free throw.

With home support, China had beaten Australia and strived to enter the final. Beating the Olympic gold medalist and the world champion infuses into China more confidence, making China's prospect in the Olympic Games much brighter. The strong presence inside and the competitive outside composed of MIAO Lijie and BIAN Lan helps China's head coach Tom Maher being more optimistic in leading China's team to the semifinals and even getting a medal in the Olympic Games. However, Sui Feifei, one of China's pillars, did not perform well in the tournament due to her stomach ache, the excuse presented by Tom who regards Sui as one of the rare talents in China.

The USA, the superpower in women's basketball, was unexpectedly beaten by China. However, with many core players absent from the tournament, the US team is still favored to grab its fifth Olympic gold medal for women's basketball in the upcoming Olympic Games. Sylvia Fowles proves to be a new star of the USA while Lisa Leslie of 35-year old, is still sparkling on court, except in the last match against China. Nevertheless, the US team's strength will emerge when more WNBA stars like Candace Parker gather in Beijing in August. However, Australia, which beat the USA by depending on its ouside firing, also shows its potential as a strong challenger of the US in August. Besides, the absent Russia is also another major competitor for the gold medal in the upcoming Olympic Games.

The Opals of Australia did not perform as well as it had been expected to. A bronze medal cannot satisfy the current world champion of the women's basketball. With the absence of its top players including Athens' top scorer Lauren Jackson, Australia lost two consecutive games to China and Cuba after its unexpected win over the USA. With the low field goal percentage and a high number of turnovers, Australia's rookies are exposed to the more physical international teams. Besides, Suzy Batkovic, Erin Philips and Natalie Porter got injured one after another. Australian coach Jan STirling pointed out that her major focus is on allowing as many young players as possible to be baptized in intensive and fierce international games.

Cuba's great strength and speed made up for players' unpolished personal skill. In the preliminary rounds, depending on rebounds and full-court pressure, it beat formidable opponent such as Australia who, in return, defeated Cuba in the third-place battle. The low shooting percentage may be the Achilles' heel for Cuba to compete in the upcoming Olympic qualifying games.

Korea defeated New Zealand twice in the preliminary as well as in the final round to occupy the fifth place in the tournament. Korea's outside shooting, its magic weapon on court, was choppy in the tournament. The Athens veteran Beon Yeon Ha' three-point shooting percentage is 37%, slightly above the team's average of 34%. Good passing can only pick up when it is faced with low-speed teams such as New Zealand. It lacks body strength and stamina and absence of inside attackers, making its road bumpy in August. The Korea coach said that a center whose height is over two meters may be included in his line-up in Aguust. More stable outside shooting and a high center may forge a stronger Korean team in the upcoming Olympic Games.

New Zealand, though working hard and show fully their sportsmanship on the court, has been ranked sixth due to its young line-up and weakness in both speed and height. Angela Marino alone, the only star in the team, is impossible to bolster the whole team. As New Zealand's head coach Mike McHugh once expressed that Tall Ferns' current task is to nurse and cultivate players for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Wukesong Indoor Stadium's debut is excellent. The aesthetic outer design of golden wheat-ear wave impressed audience as well as players and coaches who spoke highly of the stadium, facilities and service. "Fantastic", "wonderful", and "excellent" are words used frequently by them to describe the venue as well as the service. Daily operations, media service as well as working staff are all up to the standard of the Olympic Games. After the all-around testing of "Good Luck" Beijing test events, the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium is well-prepared for the fiercer fighting of men's as well as women's basketball teams accompanied with myriads of journalists and audience in August.