Maki Takada

Summer Olympics / Basketball Aug 5, 2021

Japan's women's basketball team not satisfied with just being Cinderella

by Kaz Nagatsuka

The Akatsuki Five are officially in uncharted territory. Can they reach the podium?

Summer Olympics / Basketball Jul 30, 2021

Japan gives U.S. women's basketball team early trouble but 'bad habits' sting in loss

by Jason Coskrey

A'Ja Wilson scored a game-high 20 points and had 10 rebounds as Team USA pulled away from Japan after a tight first quarter to pick up an 86-69 win.

Basketball Nov 10, 2020

Japan women's coach Tom Hovasse looks to unearth new talent at camp

by Kaz Nagatsuka

The Akatsuki Five's first meeting in nine months offers the American coach a look at players who might not have made his Olympic roster if the games had taken place as scheduled.

Basketball Oct 12, 2018

WJBL powerhouse JX-Eneos Sunflowers chasing history in upcoming season

by Kaz Nagatsuka

The JX-Eneos Sunflowers have completely dominated on the court in Japanese women's basketball for the last decade. But winning never gets old for the ultimate title collectors. In fact, if they capture another trophy in the upcoming Women's Japan Basketball League season, the Sunflowers will ...

Basketball Jan 7, 2018

Sunflowers see off early challenge to rout Iris in All-Japan Championship final

by Kaz Nagatsuka

Star center Maki Takada kept hitting jumpers and the Denso Iris were giving the undisputed best women's team in Japan a challenge early in their contest. But the Sunflowers responded, making wise adjustments both offensively and defensively, and finished the game in their usual dominating ...

Basketball Jul 25, 2017

Australia sends Japan to first loss of FIBA Women's Asia Cup

Japan suffered its first defeat of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup on Tuesday, losing a tight battle to Australia 83-74 and in the process missing a chance to finish atop Group B. After a competitive first half in Bangalore, India, the Australians locked in to ...

Basketball Jul 9, 2016

Japan women rout Senegal, complete three-game series sweep in Rio tuneup

by Kaz Nagatsuka

The Olympic-bound Japan women's national basketball team wrapped up a three-game exhibition series against Senegal with an overwhelming 84-38 victory at Yoyogi National Gymnasium No. 2 on Saturday. The hosts swept the African country, which will also compete in the Rio de Janeiro Games next ...

Basketball May 10, 2016

Australia women's squad completes three-game sweep of Japan

by Andrew McKirdy

The Japan women's basketball team gave world No. 2 Australia a huge fright before succumbing to an 84-73 loss to suffer a series sweep on Tuesday. Japan, which was without star player Ramu Tokashiki for the three-game series, was crushed 80-41 and 81-55 in the ...