Group play in the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup starts on Friday in Berlin, Germany. The tournament runs through Sept. 13, with the WNBA season resuming on the 17th. The World Cup lets basketball fans see some of the best players team up to represent their country, and Team USA has the chance to win their fifth straight title this time around.
The Americans are the overwhelming favorite to take home a vault full of gold medals, even though the team has had to come together over less than
a week, while other national teams have been practicing for a month or two in preparation for the major international competition.
“Anytime that you’re able to represent your country and play against the best of the best in the world, it’s an incredible honor,” Wings head coach Jose Fernandez, who will be traveling with Team USA as a scout coach for the World Cup, said after Sunday’s 97-71 thrashing of the Connecticut Sun. “I’m really excited to be a part of USA Basketball. You talk about the World Cup — I think it’s the toughest tournament to win with the 16 teams and with the shortened amount of time that our national team gets to practice. Everyone we’re taking over there has just played 40 games. Looking forward to it. Everything will move pretty quickly.”
How to watch
The entirety of the tournament will be streamed on HBO Max, creating accessibility for American hoop-heads. All of Team USA’s games specifically will be streamed live on TNT and truTV, extending the opportunity to watch the tournament through cable. You can also stream the tournament through FIBA’s Courtside 1891 platform, as with all FIBA events.
Wings rundown
There will be several familiar faces appearing in the tournament. Alanna Smith will be representing Team Australia, and Costanza Verona will be representing Team Italy. Li Yueru was slated to represent Team China, but unfortunately announced on Sept. 2 that she would be unable to participate in the tournament after losing her passport in the mail. To round it off, Paige Bueckers will be representing Team USA, and head coach Jose Fernandez will be participating as a Team USA Scout.
“The greatest thing basketball has brought me is the relationships,” Bueckers said in postgame comments on Sunday. “To be able to go to war with people I love, to grind and grow and be together with them has always been my favorite part. To be able to represent our country and play for something so much bigger than yourself is truly an honor at the highest level. You never want to feel entitled and think that’s going to be handed to you. You have to earn it, and so to have that honor, I’m feeling very blessed.”
Team USA roster
Team USA aims to continue its dominant run by extending its gold medal streak to five straight World Cups. Team USA recently announced that Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics would be replacing Kelsey Plum and A’ja Wilson due to health concerns. Here is the star-packed Team USA Roster heading to Berlin to defend their gold:
- Aliyah Boston (Indiana Fever)
- Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings)
- Sonia Citron (Washington Mystics)
- Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)
- Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx)
- Kahleah Copper (Phoenix Mercury)
- Chelsea Gray (Las Vegas Aces)
- Rhyne Howard (Atlanta Dream)
- Kiki Iriafen (Washington Mystics)
- Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream)
- Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty)
- Jackie Young (Las Vegas Aces)
Team USA starts group play early Friday morning with a game against China, which would have pitted teammates Bueckers and Yueru against one another before the passport snafu. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. on Friday.
Groups and schedule
The 16 participating teams will compete in the following groups:
- Group A: Germany, Spain, Japan, Mali
- Group B: France, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Hungary
- Group C: Australia, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Türkiye
- Group D: United States, China, Italy, Czechia
Here is the full schedule for the nine-day tournament. All times are Central Time.
Friday, Sept. 4
- 4:30 a.m.: Japan vs. Mali
- 4:30 a.m.: Australia vs. Puerto Rico
- 7:15 a.m.: USA vs. China
- 7:30 a.m.: Korea vs. Nigeria
- 10:30 a.m.: Belgium vs. Türkiye
- 10:45 a.m.: Spain vs. Germany
- 1:15 p.m.: Czechia vs. Italy
- 2 p.m.: Hungary vs. France
Saturday, September 5
- 4:30 a.m.: Mali vs. Spain
- 7:15 a.m.: Nigeria vs. Hungary
- 11 a.m.: Germany vs. Japan
- 1:45 p.m.: France vs. Korea
Sunday, September 6
- 4:30 a.m.: Türkiye vs. Australia
- 7:30 a.m.: China vs. Czechia
- 10:45 a.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Belgium
- 1:45 p.m.: USA vs. Italy
Monday, September 7
- 4:30 a.m.: Belgium vs. Australia
- 4:30 a.m.: Puerto Rico vs. Türkiye
- 7:30 a.m.: Nigeria vs. France
- 7:30 a.m.: Hungary vs. Korea
- 10:50 a.m.: Germany vs. Mali
- 10:50 a.m.: Japan vs. Spain
- 1:45 p.m.: USA vs. Czechia
- 1:45 p.m.: Italy vs. China
Tuesday, September 8
- 1:30 p.m.: Qualifiers
Wednesday, September 9
- 1:30 p.m.: Qualifiers
Thursday, September 10
- Quarterfinals: Teams and time TBD
Saturday, September 12
- Semifinals: Teams and time TBD
Sunday, September 13
- 11:30 a.m.: 3rd Place Game
- 1 p.m.: Championship Final
