What is the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup?
The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup is the world championship of women's national-team basketball, played every four years since 1953. The United States are the holders and the event's serial champions — winners in Sydney 2022 of a fourth straight title — and the 2026 edition in Berlin (September 4–13) expands the field to 16 teams.[1] [2]
How do teams qualify?
Continental championships feed FIBA's qualifying tournaments, which set the finals field alongside the hosts; Berlin 2026 plays at the Berlin Arena and Max-Schmeling-Halle, four more teams than any previous edition.[2] [3]
| Season | Pool / Format | Host cities |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | Berlin (Sep 4–13, 2026) — 16 teams — upcoming |
| 2022 | United States | Australia — 83–61 vs China (Sydney); 4th straight U.S. title |
| 2018 | United States | Spain (Tenerife) — 73–56 vs Australia |
| 2014 | United States | Turkey — 77–64 vs Spain (Istanbul) |
| 2010 | United States | Czech Republic — 89–69 vs Czech Republic (Karlovy Vary/Brno) |
| 2006 | Australia | Brazil — 91–74 vs Russia (São Paulo) |
| 2002 | United States | China — 79–74 vs Russia (Nanjing) |
| 1998 | United States | Germany — 71–65 vs Russia (Berlin) |
| 1994 | Brazil | Australia — 96–87 vs China (Sydney) |
| 1990 | United States | Malaysia — 88–78 vs Yugoslavia (Kuala Lumpur) |
Champions of the last ten editions; Berlin 2026 upcoming.
Why does it matter?
It is the summit of the women's international game — the stage where the U.S. dynasty is tested by Australia, Spain, China, France and Belgium — and, with the WNBA's boom, part of women's basketball's fastest-growing era.[1] [2]
References
- FIBA — Women's Basketball World Cup 2026, official site. Accessed August 2026.
- Olympics.com — FIBA Women's World Cup 2026: groups and schedule. Accessed August 2026.
- visitBerlin — FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026. Accessed August 2026.