When does the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup start?

The tournament begins September 4, 2026 and runs through the gold medal game on September 13, 2026. All games are held in Berlin, Germany.

Why was Sabrina Ionescu left off Team USA's FIBA World Cup roster?

USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird cited the depth of the player pool and the competition for roster spots, but Ionescu's injury history played a role. An undisclosed injury sustained during the 2025 WNBA playoffs kept her out of the 2026 Unrivaled season and led to her missing 12 games at the start of the 2026 WNBA season before she returned in late June. Bird was clear that the omission was not a reflection of Ionescu's ability as a player.

Is this Caitlin Clark's first FIBA Women's World Cup?

Yes. The 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup is the first World Cup for Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. All three are making their debut at this level of international competition.

Who is the biggest threat to Team USA at the 2026 Women's World Cup?

France is the most serious contender. The French national team lost to Team USA by a single point (67-66) in the gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They are ranked second in the world and will arrive in Berlin with recent experience pushing the U.S. to the limit. Australia and Belgium are also dangerous teams capable of a deep run.

How many gold medals has Team USA won at the FIBA Women's World Cup?

Team USA is going for its fifth consecutive gold medal at the FIBA Women's World Cup. They have won every title since 2010 and are the most dominant program in the history of the tournament.

Where can I watch the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup in the US?

TNT has the exclusive U.S. English-language broadcast rights. You can watch on TNT or TBS on cable, stream via Max, or add TNT through Hulu + Live TV. Internationally, the Courtside 1891 app is FIBA's official streaming platform and covers the full tournament.

Team USA Is Going to Berlin With A Loaded Roster

2 hours ago

6 min read

USA Women's Basketball team in action at the FIBA Women's World Cup 2026

By Watch Her Play | August 8, 2026 | Basketball, FIBA World Cup

Team USA's 12-player roster for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup is officially set, and it is stacked. Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Angel Reese are all in. The tournament runs September 4 to 13 in Berlin, Germany, and the U.S. is chasing its fifth consecutive gold medal. But one name is conspicuously absent: New York Liberty superstar Sabrina Ionescu did not make the cut, and the women's basketball world has opinions.

In this article:

The Full Team USA Roster
The Ionescu Situation
Biggest Threats to Team USA
How Team USA Can Win It All
Group Stage Schedule
Where to Watch
FAQ

The Full Team USA Roster

USA Basketball managing director Sue Bird announced the 12-player squad, and it is a deliberate blend of proven veterans and the new generation taking over women's basketball. Seven players from the gold-medal 2024 Paris Olympic team return, joined by first-time World Cup participants who have spent the last two years making the WNBA must-watch television.

A'ja Wilson Las Vegas Aces
Breanna Stewart New York Liberty
Caitlin Clark Indiana Fever
Paige Bueckers Dallas Wings
Angel Reese Atlanta Dream
Napheesa Collier Minnesota Lynx
Kelsey Plum Phoenix Mercury
Chelsea Gray Las Vegas Aces
Kahleah Copper Phoenix Mercury
Rhyne Howard Atlanta Dream
Aliyah Boston Indiana Fever
Jackie Young Las Vegas Aces

At the center of it all is A'ja Wilson, who was named World Cup MVP at the 2022 tournament after averaging 17.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. She is the anchor this team is built around. Around her, you have a lineup that can score from anywhere, defend at an elite level, and make the kind of highlight plays that bring new eyes to the game.

Let's Talk About the Ionescu Situation

The bottom line: Sabrina Ionescu was left off the 12-player roster despite being a two-time Team USA gold medalist (2022 World Cup, 2024 Olympics) and one of the best players in the WNBA. The reason, according to USA Basketball, comes down to an undisclosed injury she sustained during the 2025 WNBA playoffs that kept her out of the 2026 Unrivaled season and sidelined her for 12 games into the current WNBA season before she returned in late June.

Sue Bird, who manages the national team program, addressed the cut directly: "This is a very tough roster to make, and I don't view it as a reflection of their play." She emphasized that every player left off had earned the right to be on the team, which is true, and also sort of the point. When you have earned that right, being cut anyway stings.

Fans were vocal. One response that circulated widely on X: "How has she not earned the right to play?" The frustration is understandable. Ionescu is not a fringe player. She is a cornerstone of the New York Liberty, one of the most complete guards in the league, and someone who has delivered on the biggest international stages before. The injury history this season gave the selection committee a reason to go another direction, but that does not make it feel any less like a gut punch for Ionescu fans.

Olivia Miles was the other high-profile name left off the roster. Both absences signal something bigger: the roster construction this year is very intentional about building toward the next Olympic cycle, and that means some veterans made room for the players who will anchor Team USA for the next decade.

The Teams That Could Beat Team USA

Let's be real, the U.S. enters Berlin as the heavy favorite. They are going for five consecutive gold medals, the roster is arguably the most talented in the history of women's international basketball, and they went 5-0 in World Cup qualifying including an 84-70 win over Spain. But this is not a sure thing.

France: The Realest Threat

France is ranked second in the world, and they have the receipts to prove it. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, France pushed Team USA to a 67-66 final in the gold-medal game, on their home court, in front of their home crowd. That loss left a mark on French basketball in the best possible way. They come into Berlin with momentum, experience in high-pressure situations, and the memory of how close they got. Do not sleep on France.

Australia: The Program with History

The Opals won bronze at the 2024 Paris Games and are the last non-U.S. team to win the FIBA Women's World Cup, back in 2006. Australia has consistently been in the conversation at every major tournament, and their ability to play cohesive team basketball makes them dangerous even against more individually talented rosters. They are not going to Berlin to make up the numbers.

Belgium: The Surprise Package

Belgium won EuroBasket Women 2025 and arrives at their first World Cup with serious momentum and something to prove. They headline a competitive Group C alongside Australia, and their ability to disrupt established powers has already been demonstrated at the European level. They are the team most likely to surprise someone in the knockout rounds.

Spain: The Experienced Contender

Spain is ranked sixth in the world and is always competitive at major tournaments. Team USA beat them by 14 in qualifying, but Spain has the depth and the tactical sophistication to make any game interesting. They have produced WNBA stars for years and know how to compete on the international stage.

How Team USA Can Win the Gold

The blueprint is straightforward: run A'ja Wilson at the center of everything and let the supporting cast do what they do best. Wilson is the best player in the world right now, and at the international level her size and skill combination is genuinely difficult to defend. She was the World Cup MVP in 2022 for a reason.

What makes this roster different from any previous Team USA squad is the playmaking infrastructure around Wilson. Caitlin Clark is one of the best passers in professional basketball. Her ability to create for others, push the pace, and hit the deep three means defenses cannot sag off her. Paige Bueckers is a natural scorer who plays within the flow of the game. Together they give Team USA a two-guard combination that will be exhausting to defend for 40 minutes.

Chelsea Gray and Kelsey Plum, both veterans of multiple championship runs with the Las Vegas Aces, provide the experience and composure that international tournaments demand. When things get tight in the fourth quarter, having players who have been in those moments before is not a small thing.

Angel Reese and Napheesa Collier give Team USA the physicality and rebounding presence to control the glass on both ends. And Breanna Stewart, a two-time WNBA MVP, is the versatile forward who can guard multiple positions and score from anywhere.

The biggest challenge will not be the group stage. It will be the knockout rounds, where scouting has caught up, pace slows down, and individual execution under pressure separates teams. If Team USA stays connected defensively and does not get complacent, they have everything they need to close this out.

Team USA Group Stage Schedule

Team USA is placed in Group D and opens play on September 4 against China, who they defeated 83-61 to win the 2022 World Cup. The group stage runs through September 7, with the knockout rounds taking place through the gold medal game on September 13.

Date	Opponent	Stage
Thursday, Sept. 4	vs. China	Group D
Saturday, Sept. 6	vs. Italy	Group D
Sunday, Sept. 7	vs. Czechia	Group D
Sept. 9-10	Quarterfinals	Knockout Round
Sept. 12	Semifinals	Knockout Round
Friday, Sept. 13	Gold Medal Game	Final

All games will be played at Berlin Arena and Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany.

Where to Watch

TNT holds the exclusive U.S. English-language broadcast rights for the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup. Here is the breakdown of how to watch:

On TV: TNT and TBS will carry games throughout the tournament.

Streaming: You can stream games on Max (formerly HBO Max). Hulu + Live TV also includes TNT, TBS, and truTV, and currently offers a free trial period.

International: The Courtside 1891 app (FIBA's official streaming platform) carries the tournament live with coverage available in most international markets. Check your local listings for regional broadcast partners.