The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup is finally here—the tournament tips off this Friday, September 4th. 16 teams are competing, separated into four groups. Let’s take a look at Group A.

2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Group A Preview and Prediction
Japan-World Ranking: 10

Japan is making its 15th appearance in the FIBA World Cup. Japan’s best World Cup result was earning silver in 1975, when they fell to the Soviet Union. The team found recent success when they earned the silver medal at the 2020 Olympic Games. Mai Yamamoto is Japan’s leading scorer and star player, averaging 15.0 points per game. She is a rookie in the WNBA this season for the Las Vegas Aces. A player to look out for is 24-year-old Aika Hirashita. Hirashita is averaging 12.4 points per game. She fits Japan’s playing style, with quick decision-making and perimeter shooting.

Spain-World Ranking: 6

Spain is making its 8th appearance in the World Cup. Spain’s best World Cup result was a silver medal in 2014. They did not qualify for the last World Cup (2022).

It will be interesting to see how Spain bounces back this time around. Alba Torrens is the leader of this team. She averaged 11.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during EuroBasket 2025. During this WNBA season, Megan DiLeo is having one of the best years of her career. She is a member of the WNBA’s expansion team,  Portland Fire. DiLeo is averaging a career-best 13.2 points per game this season. DiLeo will look to carry this momentum into the World Cup. Awa Fam is a rookie standout on the Seattle Storm. Fam averages 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game for Spain so far this year.

Germany-World Ranking: 11
| Source: Lastwordonsports.com – Daniel Benjamin, Editor

 

Germany has one of the most intriguing teams in the tournament. Berlin is the host city for the World Cup, giving Germany home advantage. In the 2024 Olympics, the team reached the quarterfinals.

New York Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich will look to bring her size, shooting ability, and defense to her national team. She has been out for most of the WNBA season due to an injury. Lately, she has returned to play and is contributing to the team. A player to look out for is Frieda Bühner. The 22-year-old is averaging a team-high 13.2 points per game this year. She is a versatile forward who can attack mismatches while on the court. One detail to note is that Germany will be without Satou Sabally, who has stepped away from basketball due to a head injury. This is a huge loss for this team. Other players will have to step up in her absence.

Mali-World Ranking: 18

Mali is making its 3rd World Cup appearance. For the first time in the team’s history, Mali is competing in consecutive World Cups, and it is doing so with its highest-ever rank: 18. One of the country’s stars is Sika Koné. The 6-foot-3 forward is one of Mali’s most productive players. In the qualifying tournament, she averaged 11.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Koné recorded a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double against Brazil. A player to look out for is Maimouna Haidara. The forward led Mali in points per game with 15.8 during the qualifying tournament. While this squad is considered an underdog, their physical play in the interior could make some games difficult.

Prediction:

Spain has a strong roster with many talented veterans. If their stars can step up, they have a strong chance at finishing at the top of the group. With home advantage, Germany is likely to have what it takes to advance from the group stage. Japan will be right on the brink of second or third place in the group. Mali, with less World Cup experience, may struggle in this group.

Final Group A Prediction: 1st: Spain, 2nd: Germany, 3rd: Japan, 4th: Mali

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Top 5 WNBA MVP Candidates For The 2026 Season

Photo Credit: Chris Jones, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect