FIBA Releases 16-Nation World Cup Rosters Ahead of Sept. 4 Berlin Tipoff
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 2
FIBA Releases 16-Nation World Cup Rosters Ahead of Sept. 4 Berlin Tipoff
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Sep 2
Summary
Sixteen national teams unveiled their full 12-player squads for the 2026 FIBA World Cup, which opens in Berlin on Friday with the field split into four groups.
Team USA enters with an all-WNBA roster and a dominant pedigree—nine titles in the last 12 editions, four straight championships, and no World Cup loss since 2006.
Kara Lawson said this could be the hardest World Cup for the Americans to win, citing rapidly improving global depth and stronger rosters across the field.
France and Australia each bring 8 WNBA players, Spain has 5, and Germany and Belgium have 4, underscoring how narrow the talent gap has become.