The Bay Area Phoenix Finish as Americas Runners Up

Posted On November 3, 2024November 3, 2024

The club championship of the entire Americas came down to one game on Saturday in Medellin after Union Florida defeated Sportiva Italiana in the bronze medal game. The Bay Area Phoenix had already defeated Antioquia in their first meeting in Colombia, but both teams already knew that they would be advancing to the final stage before that game. Antioquia was able to strengthen their squad for these games while the Phoenix did make key additions, but had to address departures from their initial roster. The first game was quite close and low-scoring so there was anticipation of a similar tight matchup this time around.

The home team started well in trying to win the tournament again, but the Phoenix kept it close in the second quarter. Antioquia built the lead back up again, but the Phoenix had one more surge to even up the game before not being able to keep up with the hosts late and losing 61-53. Rebecca Harris led the team in scoring as they stayed in the game by converting at the free throw line while struggling from the field all night long. Mo Bennett provided energy in the paint again, securing 18 rebounds.

Antioquia [61]: Carolina Lopez 15 Jenifer Munoz 15 Mabel Martinez 9 Daihana Murillo 6 Yuliany Paz 5/11r Mayra Caicedo 5 Lorena Hurtado 3/6r Valentina Lopez 3 Diana Prens 0 Laura Ramirez 0 Melisa Suaza DNP Maria Salguedo DNP
Bay Area Phoenix [53]: Rebecca Harris 25/6r Kamilah Jackson 8/8r Jazmine Jackson 8/7r Ameela Li 5/7r Mariah Cooks 4 Doris Jones 3 Mo Bennett 0/18r Faatimah A DNP

The WPBA was ambitious in working to join this tournament and naming a squad that was capable of winning it, supplementing the star players in the league with other professionals from around the country. After winning all of the games in the group stage, they were certainly contenders heading into this final weekend, but having less depth available than they had for the first week of games left them coming up just short in the championship game after a tough semifinal. Given the league’s goal of helping local players take their professional careers to the next level, continuing to show that they exist in the ecosystem of basketball around the world by participating in international competition should help them attract players next summer and the give them opportunity to win this tournament in the future.