There’s a reason Team USA head coach Kara Lawson didn’t spend a lot of time lamenting the losses of A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum after they were ruled out of the FIBA Women’s World Cup for health reasons.
“We don't have time to be worried about who's not here,” Lawson said of the challenge ahead. "I think there's no question that the world is improving at a rapid rate. ... It's going to be the most difficult World Cup to win that we've had because of that."
Wilson is the reigning FIBA World Cup MVP, an accolade she won as Team USA won its fourth straight title in 2022. The Las Vegas Aces star also led Team USA to Olympic gold as she won MVP of the women’s basketball tournament during the 2024 Paris games, which saw Plum win clutch 12 points in that close championship game.
Now, it’s on Team USA’s new-look roster to carry the weight of competing against the 15 other teams filled with most talented women’s basketball players in the world. That effort begins on Sept. 4, in Berlin, Germany.
Here are the top 10 players to watch based on their international resumes:
10. Han Xu, China
A 6-foot-9 center, Han Xu is a Chinese star who will make her third World Cup appearance after earning a Player of the Game nod against Brazil and 12.4 points and 5.6 rebounds at the FIBA Women’s World Cup qualifier in Wuhan in March.
The art of the mid-range as told by Han Xu ✨#FIBAWWC x #WeOwnTheGame pic.twitter.com/Dy97epxRdX
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) May 30, 2026
The 26-year-old is an impressive shooter at her size, and she won’t be Team USA’s biggest problem as the tournament favorite faces China in the opening round. Li Yueru, the Dallas Wings' 6-7 center will also represent China along with 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu, who is listed at 7-2 and will be eligible for the 2027 WNBA draft.
They're BIG on chemistry 🫶
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) March 10, 2026
Zhang Ziyu (7'3"/220cm), Han Xu (6'9"/205cm), Li Yueru (6'7"/201cm) and Team China love the cameras 📸🇨🇳#FIBAWWC x #WeOwnTheGame pic.twitter.com/r9hp7QKuBV
9. Megan DiLeo, Spain
FIBA’spower rankings released Tuesday, Sept. 1, listed Spain at No. 3. Megan DiLeo will be key to meeting that expectation. She was Spain’s leading scorer (18.0 points per game) and rebounder (9.3 rebounds per game) at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and she’s currently in the midst of the best WNBA season of her career with the Portland Fire.
Although this is also the 6-4 center’s World Cup debut, DiLeo will anchor young group that features Awa Fam and Maria Conde.
Megan Gustafson scores 21 to earn TCL Player Of The Game as Spain qualify to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup! #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/3IPDdji0KJ
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) March 15, 2026
8. Julie Allemand, Belgium
As important as Emma Meeseman will be to Belgium, 5-10 Toronto Tempo guard Julie Allemand is also worth watching. An impactful playmaker, Allemand enters the World Cup as one of its top point guards. She was named MVP of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament in Wuhan, China, in March after averaging 9.4 points, 5.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game.
Allemand set an all-time single-game World Cup Qualifiers record with seven steals against South Sudan and helped Belgium qualify. At the club level, she earned EuroLeague Women Final Six MVP honors after leading Fenerbahçe to the 2025-26 title. Internationally, Allemand has played a key role in Belgium’s EuroBasket gold-medal triumphs in 2023 and 2025, earning All-Star Five recognition along the way.
Julie Allemand had a good day at the office 💼
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) March 14, 2026
📊 14 PTS | 7 REB | 5 AST | 3 3PM | 3 STL | 23 EFF#FIBAWWC x #WeOwnTheGame pic.twitter.com/lDD7312xWs
7. Mai Yamamoto, Japan
Mai Yamamoto is a new fan favorite with the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, but the 5-4 guard is a seasoned global veteran with seven FIBA senior-level competitions under her belt — including the 2022 FIBA World Cup and 2024 Olympics. In Paris, she record 17 points, 3 rebounds and 5 assists in Japan’s 102-76 loss to the U.S. in its opening game. Japan won gold at the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup with Yamamoto’s help. Japan won silver at the 2023 FIBA Asia Cup.
Yamamoto’s two-handed shot is automatic from beyond the arc. She went 64% from the 3-point line in the 2024 Olympic qualifying tournament and 50% from 3 during the World Cup qualifier in San Juan.
Today is a good day for some Mai Yamamoto highlights 😏 #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/DtGB6h2fRf
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) July 18, 2026
6. Ezi Magbegor, Australia
In Australia’s pursuit of a third consecutive international podium finish, Seattle Storm center Ezi Magebegor should be key. She finished the Paris Olympics with a historic performance in the bronze medal game, becoming the all-time women's Olympic basketball single-game efficiency record holder. She scored 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting. Magbegor, who is 6-4, added 13 rebounds, a reminder of how effective she can be on a global stage.
𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐓
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) August 11, 2024
Ezi Magbegor is the new all-time women's Olympic basketball single-game efficiency record holder 🇦🇺#Paris2024 x #Basketball x #Olympics pic.twitter.com/MSpZUTacu2
5. Leonie Fiebich, Germany
Leonie Fiebich’s importance to the host nation can’t be overstated. The 6-4 forward is an elite two-way talent who will be difficult to contain from long range.
Another New York Liberty representative, she made a historic Olympic debut in 2024 after powering Germany’s path there with 18.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the qualifying tournament.
Leonie Fiebich sticks with things through highs and lows 🥹🇩🇪
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) August 23, 2026
📺 Her player portrait premieres on FIBA YouTube https://t.co/RSWlNbFlFk pic.twitter.com/HyCWEPUO34
4. Caitlin Clark, USA
As she makes her World Cup debut, all eyes will be on Indiana Fever superstar Caitlin Clark – and not just because she’ll be the most famous player in the tournament.
The 6-0 guard comes in as the MVP of the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, which made a major statement after she only started in one of Team USA’s five games.
The U.S. went undefeated and Clark shined with team leading totals of 58 points and 32 assists.
MVP CC ❤️🔥
— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) March 18, 2026
congrats to Caitlin Clark on being named the MVP of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament 👏#USABWNT x #FIBAWWC pic.twitter.com/ogOvt5xnbb
3. Gabby Williams, France
Golden State Valkyries centerpiece Gabby Williams is a star for France. In 2024, she won the prestigious Alain Gilles Trophy given to the best male or female French basketball player and was named FIBA Europe SuperCup MVP after guiding Fenerbahçe to the FIBA Europe title in 2024.
France’s heartbreaking Olympic silver medal in Paris also happened in 2024. Despite leading all scorers with 19 points against Team USA, she missed a chance to force overtime with a last-second buzzer-beater that was ruled a two-pointer instead of a three-pointer as France lost 67-66.
With an extra edge from that outcome and Williams’ other international accomplishments (two Turkish Presidential Cup championships, EuroLeague championship, EuroLeague Final Four MVP and two EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year awards, the 5-11 forward is a major threat.
Gabby Williams has 16 points in the first 5 minutes. 🤯
— FIBA Women's EuroBasket (@EuroBasketWomen) November 10, 2024
SIXTEEN POINTS
FIVE MINUTES.#EuroBasketWomen | @FRABasketball x @gabbywilliams15 pic.twitter.com/dutyLYyC1u
2. Emma Meessemen, Belgium
The New York Liberty's Emma Meesseman’s international basketball career is extensively decorated, with multiple EuroBasket titles, back-to-back Women’s EuroBasket MVP honors and two titles with the Belgian Cats.
Most recently, the 6-4 forward led Belgium to the 2025 FIBA Women's EuroBasket title and won tournament MVP.
At 33, Meessemen has won at multiple levels – including the WNBA, where she was awarded the WNBA Finals MVP with the Mystics in 2019. Now, she’s on a mission to secure her first World Cup gold.
Just Emma Meesseman having her fingerprints all over the game, as per usual 🤩
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) March 17, 2026
📊 14 PTS | 9 REB | 9 AST | 70% FG | 28 EFF#FIBAWWC x #WeOwnTheGame pic.twitter.com/BErkMjapbi
1. Breanna Stewart, USA
New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart has the experience to anchor the U.S. to victory in A'ja Wilson’s absence. The UConn legend has been elite for so long that she could make history in Berlin. Legendary guard turned-Team USA managing director Sue Bird currently sits as the only women’s basketball player in history to claim four World Cup titles, which Stewart will match if Team USA wins it all.
Stewart was the 2020 Tokyo Olympics FIBA MVP and could also become the first player to win multiple World Cup MVP honors after earning the honor at the 2018 FIBA World Cup.
The 6-3 forward made the All-Star Five at the 2024 Paris Olympics and at the 2022 World Cup.
Breanna Stewart is four Women's World Cups deep. Stuff of legends 💪
— FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup (@FIBAWWC) August 6, 2026
She's now alongside Diana Taurasi with four #FIBAWWC appearances, while Sue Bird stands alone with five 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/kA9mtP99z3
👑 The Queen 👑
— Seattle Storm (@seattlestorm) August 8, 2021
Breanna Stewart is your @FIBA #Tokyo2020 Women's Basketball MVP! 🥇#TakeCover x @usabasketball pic.twitter.com/AUhxOrV5Py
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: FIBA Women's World Cup: Ranking the best players from across the world
