Winner Of The 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifies For The 2028 Olympic Games

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 tips off on Friday, September 4 with the Golden State Valkyries set to represent five different countries at this year’s tournament in Berlin.

Valkyries forwards Janelle Salaün and Gabby Williams will suit up for France (Group B), forward Cecila Zandalasini will represent Italy (Group D), guard Miela Sowah will play for Australia (Group C), and Kokoro Tanaka, who was selected by Golden State 38^th overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft, will play for Japan (Group A). Head coach Natalie Nakase will serve as assistant coach for Team USA (Group D).

The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 takes place in Berlin, Germany between September 4 and 13, and will feature 16 countries battling it out to qualify for the 2028 Olympics. The 16 teams are split into four groups of four, who will compete in group play between Friday, September 4 and Monday, September 7. The top team in each group advances directly to the quarterfinals, while the second and third place teams in each group will play in single-elimination qualification games (Group A vs. Group B, and Group C vs. Group D). These winners will then face the group winners in the quarterfinal round on Thursday, September 10. The semifinals will take place on Saturday, September 12, and the final and third place games will tip off on Sunday, September 13. All games will be available to watch on HBO Max.

Salaün was crowned TISSOT MVP at the Qualifying Tournament in Lyon-Villeurbanne, averaging 16.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 79. 2 percent from the floor to help France qualify for the World Cup. Zandalasini was named All-Star Five at the Qualifying Tournament in San Juan after posting 13.8 points and 2.8 rebounds to go with a 47.2 field goal percentage, leading Italy to its first World Cup appearance since 1994. Williams led France to the Quarterfinals in the 2022 FIBA World Cup, averaging 15.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game en route to All-tournament Second Team honors. Sowah posted 11 points, 1.7 three-pointers and 1.0 steals across three games for the Opals at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, who went on to win gold at the tournament. Tanaka averaged 10.8 points on 36.0 percent shooting and 90.9 percent from the free throw line across five games for Japan at the Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul.

Held every four years, the FIBA World Cup is the top international women’s basketball tournament. The winner of the 2026 World Cup will qualify for the 2028 Olympics. Team USA has earned the Gold Medal in eight of the last 10 FIBA World Cups, including the last four straight.

Valkyries at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Group Play schedule (subject to change):

For more information on the Golden State Valkyries 2026 season, presented by Kaiser Permanente, visit valkyries.com.