FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournaments Recap: Standings & Top Players
- Erica L. Ayala
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Rhyne Howard, Paige Bueckers lead USA Basketball to 2-0 start. Caitlin Clark drops Double-Double in senior team debut
The Road to the LA 2028 Summer Olympics begins this March!
With the United States receiving an automatic bid as hosts of the next Summer Olympics, the winner of the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup will also punch their ticket to L.A. Five teams are already in, leaving 11 spots for the September tournament in Berlin up for grabs!
All four tournaments resume play on Saturday, March 14. Here's a recap of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournaments Standings in China, Puerto Rico, Türkiye and France.
FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Standings
Through the first two days of competition, six (6) teams remain undefeated. Here is a rundown to the top teams and top performers in each of the four tournament sites.
Tournament A - Wuhan, People’s Republic of China - TOP PERFORMERS
In China, Belgium sits atop the table through two games. Belgian Forward Antonia Delaere leads the tournament with 20.5 PPG.
After an injury-laden WNBA season in Indiana, Fever forward Damiris Dantas leads Team Brasil with 19 PPG in two games.
Belgiam leads the field, but already has a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup. It's a four-way tie for second between Brasil, Czechia, Mulawi, and hosts China.
Team Brasil is the only other team, alongside Belgium, averaging over 80 points per game. Can Pokey Chatman lead her team to Belgium?
Action in China resumes Saturday with Brasil & Czechia facing off in the first game of the day.
Tournament B - San Juan, Puerto Rico - TOP PERFORMERS
The United States, Italy, and Spain are a perfect 2-0 through the first two competition days in Puerto Rico.
Golden State Valkyries forward Cecelia "Cici" Zandalasini leads the tournament with 14 PPG for Italia. Iyana Martin/Espańa (13.5 PPG), and Rhyne Howard/USA (13 PPG) round out the Top-3 scorers in the Tournament B.
Atlanta Dream guard Howard led the United States with 21 points in a 110-46 Game 1 win over Senegal. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers dropped 22 points in a 91-48 game 2 win over hosts Puerto Rico.
Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kiki Iriafen are making their first international run with the women's senior 5-v-5 team. Indiana Fever start Clark dropped 17 points and 12 assists in her much-anticipated USA Basketball debut. The young guard missed the majority of her second WNBA season due to a series of lower body injuries. It was good to see her back on the court.
Washington Mystics forward Iriafen is averaging eight points in just shy of 16 minutes for the United States. Chicago Sky center Reese
Tournament C - Istanbul, Türkiye - TOP PERFORMERS
Australia leads the way in Istanbul with a perfect 2-0 record. Seattle Storm forward Ezi Magbegor leads the Opals with 15 PPG through two games.
Both she and Phoenix Mercury guard Sami Whitcomb have each been named Player of the Game early in the tournament. 2024 WNBA champion and New York Liberty forward Kennedy Burke leads hosts Türkiye with 15 PPG.
With Australia already qualified for the Women's World Cup, this gives Argentina, Türkiye, and struggling Canada team an opportunity to win the automatic bid from Istanbul.
Tournament D - Lyon-Villeurbanne, France - TOP PERFORMERS
Germany and hosts France are undefeated through two games in Lyon.
Young German forward Frieda Bühner leads all scorers with 20 PPG in two wins for the Deutschland squad.
For France, Seattle Storm center Domonique Malonga dropped 21 points and a dunk in the opening game for the hosts.
Unfortunately, it was announced Malonga has withdrawn from the remainder of the Qualifying Tournament due to a concussion.
"Having suffered a head injury on Thursday evening during the match against Colombia, French national team player Dominique Malonga underwent further examinations on Friday in Lyon," a translated FFBB article read.
"The results of these tests confirmed that Dominique Malonga suffered a concussion, preventing her from immediately resuming physical activity. The French national team player is therefore out for the remainder of the World Cup Qualifying Tournament, which runs until March 17 at the Astroballe arena in Villeurbanne."
We wish the young start a full recovery.
A team I enjoyed watching: Philippines.
Although still looking for their first win, this is a SANDPAPER team that put up an 80-piece on Germany. Guard Sumaya Sugapong is a Top-3 scorer in France. The 2024 Summer Olympic silver medalists are in good position to win the Qualifying Tournament and bunch their ticket to Berlin come September.
Although neither of the Sabally sisters has suited up, Nyara is will the German National Team.
Phoenix Mercury forward Satou has yet to make her return to the court after sustaining a concussion in the 2025 WNBA Finals against the Las Vegas Aces.
FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: How to watch live
As we discussed in the Women's Basketball Roundup, TNT has purchased the rights to the FIBA Women's Tournament, meaning fans in the United States can enjoy the qualifiers on truTV and HBO Max. For HBO Max subscribers, the games are available to watch live and rewatches on-demand, much like Unrivaled.
Fans across the globe can watch the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 qualifying tournaments live and on demand on Courtside 1891. This is FIBA’s official streaming platform.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to include the injury update to French center Dominique Malonga.
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