Berlin tournament produces historic performances, dramatic finishes and an increasingly open race for the world title.
By The Voice of Women Sport
September 7, 2026
BERLIN — The opening weekend of the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup delivered almost everything international basketball promises: African resilience, shooting records, emerging superstars and an unexpected warning for the defending champions.
The 16-team competition, running in Berlin from September 4–13, has already produced several memorable stories. France and Belgium advanced directly to the quarterfinals after undefeated group campaigns, while the United States secured its place despite narrowly escaping a major upset against Italy.
For African basketball, Mali recorded one of the tournament’s biggest results by defeating European powerhouse Spain. Nigeria, however, was eliminated after losing all three of its group games.
Mali delivers a historic African upset
Mali transformed the early direction of Group A with an extraordinary 82–73 victory over Spain on September 5.
Spain entered the game as an established international contender, but Mali played with confidence and physical strength throughout the contest. The result kept the West African nation in contention for the knockout phase and became one of the most significant victories in its Women’s World Cup history.
Mali’s Sika Koné produced a historic double-double and led the celebrations after the final buzzer. The victory demonstrated that Mali is capable of competing against the world’s strongest teams not simply participating on the global stage.
Mali faces host nation Germany in its final group match on September 7. The outcome will determine its route into the next phase.
Nigeria eliminated after difficult campaign
Nigeria’s tournament ended without a victory, but its results do not tell the entire story.
D’Tigress lost 99–81 to Korea before suffering a narrow 71–67 defeat against Hungary. That four-point loss was particularly painful because Nigeria remained within striking distance deep into the contest.
France then proved too powerful in Nigeria’s final Group B appearance. The European side completed an undefeated group campaign while producing the greatest three-point shooting display in Women’s World Cup history.
Nigeria finished fourth in its group with three defeats and was eliminated. The result will prompt questions about preparation, squad continuity and how African champions can close the gap against opponents with greater resources and deeper professional systems.
France rewrites the record book
France emerged from the group phase as perhaps the tournament’s most impressive team.
Against Nigeria, the French made an unprecedented 22 three-point shots, breaking the Women’s World Cup record of 20 established by Japan earlier in the same tournament.
France scored 65 points during the first half its highest first-half total in a Women’s World Cup game. Gabby Williams also became the first French player to make six three-pointers in a World Cup match.
The performance followed convincing victories over Hungary and Korea, allowing France to finish Group B with a perfect 3–0 record and advance directly to the quarterfinals.
USA survives a serious warning from Italy
The United States opened its campaign with a dominant 94–61 victory over China, but Italy provided a completely different challenge two days later.
The defending champions were held to just 55 points and survived a tense 55–52 contest. Italy’s disciplined defence disrupted the American offence and kept the game undecided until the final moments.
Although USA advanced directly to the quarterfinals, the performance showed that the champions are not invulnerable. Italy’s display may also provide a blueprint for future opponents: slow the pace, protect the paint and force the Americans into a half-court battle.
Caitlin Clark makes a record-breaking debut
Caitlin Clark’s first senior Women’s World Cup appearance produced immediate history.
Coming off the bench against China, Clark registered 14 points and 11 assists without committing a turnover. Her 11 assists were the most by an American player on her World Cup debut, surpassing Alyssa Thomas’ previous mark of nine.
Clark also became the first player since detailed records began in 1994 to record at least 10 assists without a turnover in a Women’s World Cup game.
Her playmaking offered an early indication that she could influence the tournament without depending exclusively on her long-range shooting. FIBA’s report on Clark’s debut
Belgium’s golden generation keeps shining
Belgium completed a perfect Group C campaign by defeating Puerto Rico 76–64 and then overcoming Australia in the decisive game for first place.
Emma Meesseman delivered one of the tournament’s finest individual performances against the Opals: 22 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists and two steals, producing an efficiency rating of 33.
It was statistically Meesseman’s best Women’s World Cup performance. Belgium’s victory sent the European champions directly into the quarterfinals and strengthened their claim to be genuine title contenders.
Belgian guard Julie Allemand also became the competition’s all-time assists leader. She moved to 111 career World Cup assists, passing Spain’s Laia Palau and American great Sue Bird.
Other important results
Australia defeated Türkiye 87–71, while China required overtime to overcome Czechia 74–70. Hungary earned its first Women’s World Cup victory in 28 years by beating Nigeria.
Puerto Rico remained alive despite losing to Belgium, while Türkiye was eliminated after three defeats.
Amazing World Cup facts
- The first Women’s Basketball World Cup was staged in Chile in 1953, with the United States winning the inaugural championship.
- Sixteen national teams are competing in Berlin.
- France’s 22 three-pointers against Nigeria are a tournament record.
- Japan briefly held the same record after making 20 against Mali.
- Caitlin Clark recorded 11 assists and no turnovers on her World Cup debut.
- Julie Allemand is now the tournament’s career assists leader with 111.
- Hungary’s victory over Nigeria was its first at the World Cup since 1998.
- Germany’s win over Japan was its first World Cup victory since 1998.
- The United States has won four consecutive World Cups and is pursuing a fifth straight title.
- The championship game will be played in Berlin on September 13.
What happens next?
Group winners advance directly to the quarterfinals. Teams finishing second and third must contest an additional qualification round, while fourth-place teams are eliminated.
The quarterfinals will be played on September 10, followed by the semifinals on September 12. The bronze-medal game and championship final are scheduled for September 13.
France, Belgium and the United States have already demonstrated championship quality but Mali’s victory, Italy’s resistance and the emergence of new record-breakers show that this World Cup may still have many surprises to deliver.
