Three Weeks to Berlin: The Women's World Cup Field Is Locked, and the USA Is Loaded
With Australia naming its final roster and the USA bringing Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and A'ja Wilson to a newly expanded 16-team field, the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup tips off September 4.
The biggest Women's Basketball World Cup field ever assembled is now three weeks out. The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup runs September 4-13 in Berlin, and for the first time the field has expanded from 12 to 16 teams, split into four groups with 36 games across 10 days.
America's blend of eras
USA Basketball's 12-player roster, announced by managing director Sue Bird and coached by Duke's Kara Lawson, pairs the established core — A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum — with four World Cup debutants: Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Aliyah Boston and Angel Reese. Clark, who was not chosen for the Paris 2024 Olympic roster, earned MVP honors in qualifying; Berlin is her first major senior international tournament. Kahleah Copper, Rhyne Howard and Jackie Young round out the squad.
The stakes are historical as much as competitive: the USA has not lost a World Cup or Olympic game since 2006. The Americans open Group D against China on September 4, then face Italy (September 6) and Czechia (September 7). Only the group winner advances directly to the quarterfinals.
The chasers are locking in
Australia confirmed its final 12 for Berlin, captained by Sami Whitcomb with six returnees from the Paris 2024 bronze-medal team, including Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith. Sandy Brondello, in her third World Cup as Opals head coach, put it plainly: "If we play to our identity, we know we can compete with anyone." The Opals sit in Group C with Belgium, Puerto Rico and Türkiye.
The rest of the draw: hosts Germany with Japan, Spain and Mali in Group A; France, Hungary, Korea and Nigeria in Group B. Four years after a Sydney edition FIBA called its most successful ever, Berlin is the next data point in whether anyone can close the gap on the Americans.