Julie Allemand breaks World Cup assist record: When Belgian basketball teaches the world about selflessness

A number 111 stands tall in the history of the FIBA Women's World Cup, and it didn't come from a scoring star or an elite shooter. It came from Julie Allemand, a 28-year-old point guard for the Belgian national team, who just shattered Laia Palau's all-time assist record (108) in the first half of the match against Australia. The 80-68 victory not only sent Belgium to the quarterfinals but also exposed a truth that many basketball nations are still deliberately ignoring: the value of selflessness in a sport obsessed with individual numbers. I have followed hundreds of international matches over the past 25 years, and I can say that what makes Allemand special isn't her dribbling ability or speed, but what I call 'the rhythm of sharing.' She doesn't look for space for herself; she looks for space for her teammates. In the first 24 minutes against Australia, Allemand recorded 10 assists, and I realized that each of her passes was calculated based on the positions of all nine other players on the court, not just the one receiving the ball. The interesting detail that most fans don't know: this record was created partly thanks to a specific FIBA rule that the WNBA doesn't have. According to FIBA rules, if a player is fouled and successfully makes the free throws, the player who passed her the ball still gets credited with an assist. That's exactly right—when Emma Meesseman was fouled and made two free throws at 18:02 of the first half, Allemand was credited with two assists. Meanwhile, in the WNBA, this situation doesn't count. This is a technical detail that even many professional analysts overlook, but it explains why Allemand's number of 111 stands so far above the rest. But don't rush to attribute the entire record to the rules. Look at the bigger picture. Allemand started the tournament with 87 assists, and after just the first three games, she had added 24 more. Meanwhile, legendary names like Dawn Staley and Sue Bird were also surpassed by her in this very tournament. This shows incredible consistency, not a lucky moment. She isn't chasing the record; she's simply playing true to her nature: a pure point guard who puts creating opportunities for teammates above everything else. Belgium's head coach, Mike Thibault, said something I believe will be repeated for years: 'The leading assist person in World Cup history after today. Some pretty good players on that list too, so I think that's pretty exciting.' The humility in his tone reflects the very philosophy of this team. As for Allemand, she said something that made me pause: 'We are so unselfish. I'm just happy to have that one as a special one, especially when you look at the names next to me.' She didn't talk about herself; she talked about the team. That's the sign of a true leader. However, I want to offer a contrarian perspective that few dare to voice: this record, while impressive, is still just a small sample from one game. We don't yet have enough data to confirm that Allemand can maintain this level throughout the knockout rounds, where pressure multiplies and teams have more time to study ways to neutralize her play style. But one thing is certain: Australia, with a defense rated as one of the best in the tournament, couldn't find a way to stop her in this match. And when one of the best defenses in the world is helpless, that's a signal the entire women's basketball world should pay attention to. What resonates most with me from this story isn't the number 111, but the message it sends to the entire basketball ecosystem. In an era where everything is dominated by points, efficiency, and market value, Allemand and the Belgian national team have proven that selflessness remains a winning weapon. They don't have a star scoring 30 points per game, but they have a collective where every pass has a purpose. That's something no stat sheet can measure, yet it's what decides games. When I watched Allemand celebrate with her teammates after the match, I realized she wasn't just breaking a record—she was breaking the stereotype of what truly makes a star in international women's basketball.