The 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup tips off Friday in Berlin, with 16 teams competing for the title over the next two weeks. The United States enters as one of the favorites, seeking its fourth consecutive World Cup championship and its ninth overall in the tournament’s history.
Team USA roster and recent changes
The Americans will be coached by Kara Lawson of Duke, who took over the women’s basketball program there. The roster blends established WNBA talent with rising stars from the college game.
Veterans on the squad include Brenna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Chelsea Gray. The youth movement features Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Caitlin Clark, all of whom have drawn significant attention heading into the tournament.
Two notable players withdrew before the event. Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum both stepped away for health reasons, according to the filing. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were added to replace them.
Group stage structure and matchups
Teams were seeded into four groups based on the FIBA Women’s World Rankings as of April. Germany, as the host nation, automatically landed in Pot 1 alongside the United States, France, and Australia. The remaining teams filled Pots 2 through 4 based on their rankings, then were drawn into groups for scheduling purposes.
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Group A contains Japan (ranked 10th), Spain (6th), Germany (11th), and Mali (18th). Group B features Hungary (19th), South Korea (15th), Nigeria (8th), and France (2nd). Group C includes Belgium (5th), Australia (3rd), Puerto Rico (13th), and Türkiye (16th). Group D holds the United States (1st), Czechia (17th), Italy (14th), and China (4th).
The format sends three teams from each group to the knockout round. The group winner receives a bye into the Quarterfinals, while the second and third-place finishers face off in the Qualification round on September 8-9. Quarterfinals are scheduled for September 10.
Opening day schedule
Friday’s action begins at 5:30 a.m. Eastern with Australia against Puerto Rico and Japan facing Mali, both on HBO Max. South Korea meets Nigeria at 6:30 a.m., followed by the United States against China at 8:15 a.m. on TNT and truTV.
Belgium takes on Türkiye at 11:30 a.m., with Spain facing host Germany at 11:45 a.m. on truTV. The day closes with Czechia against Italy at 2:15 p.m. and Hungary against France at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday features six more group games. Mali plays Spain at 5:30 a.m., Nigeria faces Hungary at 8:15 a.m., Germany meets Japan at noon, and France takes on South Korea at 2:45 p.m.
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Sunday’s schedule includes Türkiye against Australia at 5:30 a.m., China versus Czechia at 8:30 a.m., Puerto Rico against Belgium at 11:45 a.m., and Italy facing the United States at 2:45 p.m.
Monday wraps up the group stage with eight games across all four groups, including Japan versus Spain and Germany against Mali at 11:50 a.m., and the United States closing against Czechia at 2:45 p.m. on TNT and truTV.
How the standings work
Teams earn two points for a win, one for a loss, one for a loss by default when fewer than two players are ready to compete, and no points for a forfeit. When teams are tied on points, the tiebreakers follow this order: head-to-head record among tied teams, point difference in games between those teams, points scored in those games, overall point difference in group play, and total points scored in group games.
For viewers planning to follow the tournament, games will be broadcast across HBO Max, TNT, and truTV. The knockout rounds begin next week, with the final scheduled for later in the month in Berlin.
