Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-07 · by Doug Feinberg The Associated Press
Julie Allemand of Belgium has broken Laia Palau's World Cup assist record, achieving 111 assists in her career after passing Dawn Staley and Sue Bird's numbers in the tournament. Allemand broke the record in a game against Australia, which Belgium won 80-68. In this tournament alone, she has recorded 24 assists in the first three games, bringing her total to 111. Belgium coach Mike Thibault praised Allemand's accomplishment, noting that it is "huge" and impressive considering the company on the list of leading assist players in World Cup history.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Julie Allemand, a guard from Belgium, broke the World Cup record for assists in a game against Australia. She surpassed Laia Palau's mark of 108 assists, achieving 111 assists in her World Cup career. This achievement came during Belgium's 80-68 win over Australia, which secured a spot in the quarterfinals. Allemand started the tournament with 87 assists and added 24 more in the first three games. The Belgian team prides itself on being "unselfish", which is reflected in Allemand's exceptional playmaking skills. Her coach, Mike Thibault, praised her achievement as a "huge accomplishment".
Written for “Belgium Wins Basketball Match” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 6658 · logged 2026-09-07
BERLIN (AP) — Julie Allemand stands alone atop the assist list in World Cup history.
asserted
Allemand → stand → history
Allemand broke Laia Palau of Spain’s mark of 108 assists in the first half of Belgium’s 80-68 win over Australia that clinched a spot in the quarterfinals.
asserted
that → break → quarterfinals
She now has 111 in her World Cup career.
asserted
She → have → career
“I’m just so proud because for Belgium, this is how we play,” Allemand said.
asserted
Allemand → ’m → Belgium
I’m just happy to have that one as a special one, especially when you look at the names next to me.
asserted
you → ’m → me
Besides Palau, Allemand has passed Dawn Staley and Sue Bird’s numbers in this tournament.
asserted
Allemand → pass → tournament
“It’s a huge accomplishment over here,” Belgium coach Mike Thibault said looking at Allemand in the postgame press conference.
asserted
Thibault → ’ → conference
Some pretty good players on that list too, so I think that’s pretty exciting.”
asserted
that → think → list
The Belgian guard started the tournament with 87 assists, and already has 24 in the first three games.
asserted
guard → start → games
She broke Palau’s record when Emma Meesseman hit two free throws with 1:58 left in the first half.
asserted
Meesseman → break → half
FIBA gives an assist out when a player is fouled and makes the free throws unlike in the WNBA.
asserted
player → give → WNBA
Allemand plays for Australia coach Sandy Brondello with the Toronto Tempo in the WNBA.
asserted
Allemand → play → WNBA
Brondello wasn’t surprised that Allemand broke the mark.
asserted
Allemand → break → mark
“I think it says a lot about what she does, she’s a pass-first point guard,” Brondello said.
asserted
Brondello → think → what
