Aussie Sapphires win U17 world title
Australia's next crop of female basketball stars have delivered the country's first world title in a decade.
The Sapphires beat Italy 62-38 in the final of the under-17 FIBA world championships in Spain to finish undefeated and win the gold medal early on Sunday morning (AEST).
It's Australia's best-ever result at the tournament, having never previously finished better than fifth.
They join the 2006 Opals and under-19 Gems as Australia's only world championship-winning women's teams.
Monique Conti, Ezi Magbegor and captain Jasmine Simmons were among the standouts, named in the All-Star five with Magbegor also earning MVP.
"I couldn't be prouder of my team," Sapphires coach Shannon Seebohm said.
"When we got together for our camp to select the team, we talked about being the best defensive team in the world and really committing to that side of the ball and I could not have imagined it to go any better.
"It's an unbelievable feeling. I can see a lot of our girls playing for the Opals one day."
The Sapphires handed the USA their first-ever loss in the tournament's history en route to the gold-medal match, beating them 73-60 in the semi-final.
