Germany secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the women’s FIBA World Cup with a decisive 94-56 victory over South Korea on Tuesday at the Berlin Arena. The host nation, buoyed by a strong home crowd, will face European champion Belgium in the next round.

Germany’s captain, Marie Gülich, led her team with 19 points and five rebounds, while Frieda Bühner added 17 points. Despite a spirited performance from South Korea’s Lee Hae-ran, who scored 21 points, the visitors were unable to gain a lead at any point in the game. Germany built a 17-point advantage by halftime and extended their control throughout the contest, receiving enthusiastic support from the home fans who celebrated each basket.

Germany’s progress comes after rebuilding momentum following an opening group loss by 30 points to Spain. The team rebounded with wins over Japan (74-58) and Mali (83-58) to position themselves strongly going into the knockout stages. Alexis Peterson of Germany highlighted the importance of the home crowd’s encouragement as a critical factor when the team faces physical and mental challenges on the court.

Meanwhile, Hungary also advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Japan 84-63 on Tuesday. Réka Lelik led Hungary with 23 points and eight rebounds, supported by Virág Takács-Kiss, who contributed 17 points and eight rebounds. Hungary’s comfortable win sets up a Thursday quarterfinal meeting with the United States, the four-time defending champions who earned direct qualification by finishing first in their group.

The match between Hungary and the U.S. holds added significance for Lelik, who noted it had been 40 years since Hungary last reached the quarterfinals. She expressed excitement about competing against top international talent and emphasized her team’s commitment to both performing well and enjoying the experience.

The Hungary-Japan game was marred by a serious injury to Japan’s shooting guard Saki Hayashi, who left the court with what appeared to be a broken right arm after an awkward fall caused by a foul. Hayashi received immediate medical attention and was led off the court under a privacy tarp. Her injury cast a somber tone over the game.

Japan struggled offensively, particularly from beyond the arc, hitting just seven three-pointers compared to their record 20 three-pointers in a previous World Cup game. Japan’s coach, Corey Gaines, attributed the loss to missed opportunities as his team failed to convert open shots, while Hungary capitalized on theirs. Hungary finished with 11 three-pointers made out of 25 attempts.

The quarterfinals, scheduled for Thursday, will also see Spain and France awaiting winners from Wednesday’s playoff games: Italy versus Australia and China versus Puerto Rico, respectively.