USA Has Ruled Women’s Basketball for Years, Is This the Tournament That Changes Everything?

The FIBA Women’s World Cup gets underway in Berlin on Friday with the United States entering the tournament as the overwhelming favourite and a remarkable winning record to protect.

The Americans have won their last 30 World Cup games, a run stretching back to their semifinal defeat against Russia in 2006. They are now chasing a fifth consecutive championship, but this time they will do it with a squad that combines established stars with several high-profile newcomers.

Among the players making their World Cup debuts are Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Paige Bueckers, adding a youthful dimension to a team already packed with international experience. Leading that experience is Breanna Stewart, a six-time major champion at the Olympic and World Cup level, who will be expected to anchor the Americans' title bid.

France appears to be the biggest threat. The French narrowly missed Olympic gold in Paris in 2024 after losing the final to the United States by just one point, and they arrive in Berlin determined to settle the score. Spain, Belgium and China could also pose serious challenges. China, in particular, will be looking to go one step further after finishing runner-up to the Americans at the 2022 World Cup.

The expanded tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups. Each team will play a round-robin phase, with group winners moving directly into the quarterfinals. Second- and third-placed teams will enter qualification rounds, with the four winners joining the group leaders in the last eight.

All 36 games will be played across two venues in Berlin, with the tournament running from September 4 to 13.

Former USA star Tina Charles, now working as an analyst, knows better than most the pressure that comes with wearing the American jersey. She believes another gold medal cannot be taken for granted.

The USA may have dominated the World Cup for years, but every opponent will arrive with the same motivation — to become the team that finally ends the streak.