The most talented women’s basketball players in the world will gather in Berlin, Germany, for the 2026 FIBA World Cup beginning Friday, Sept. 4.
This year’s tournament — Germany’s second time hosting — will feature 16 teams, four more than the 2022 World Cup, but the same number the competition had between 1990 and 2018.
Team USA has been dominant in this tournament, winning nine of the last 12 FIBA World Cups, including four straight. This year’s team will be coached by Kara Lawson and features rising American stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers.
Follow along for LIVE updates as Lawson speaks about Team USA and what to look forward to when play begins Friday:
Team USA's Kara Lawson talks coaching team before World Cup
"The opportunity is an amazing one, and as a player that played for
the federation ... there's a lot of pride that comes into representing our country and representing all the legends before us that played the game," Lawson said on Aug. 22. "Now to be able to be a head coach and take the helm of the program, there's not a higher honor in our sport."
#WNBAonPrime’s Kara Lawson discusses what it means to be leading the USA into the FIBA World Cup 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FTR7Qj5dN2
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) August 22, 2026
Team USA coach Kara Lawson arrives at World Cup
📍 Berlin 🇩🇪
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 30, 2026
🇺🇸 #USABWNT x #FIBAWWC 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xbu6m38EUE
Who are the coaches for the FIBA Women's World Cup?
For Team USA, the coach is Kara Lawson. She’s been the head coach at Duke University since 2020 and has guided the Blue Devils to back-to-back ACC championships and two consecutive trips to the Elite Eight.
But Lawson’s roots in Team USA run deep. She played on this team in 2008, leading the Americans to a win over Australia in the gold medal game by scoring 15 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from the floor to go along with three rebounds, two assists and a steal.Read more on Lawson and her coaching staff in Berlin.
Team USA takes the practice court for FIBA World Cup
The 🇺🇸 #USABWNT takes the practice court in Berlin ahead of the #FIBAWWC! pic.twitter.com/nvseGWVBRM
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) September 1, 2026
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Team USA at FIBA World CUP LIVE updates: Kara Lawson speaks about tournament
