The basketball world turns its eyes to Berlin this Friday as the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 tips off with a heavyweight clash: defending champions Team USA against China. Tip-off is set for 14:15 local time (8:15 a.m. ET) at Max-Schmeling-Halle, and the rematch of the 2022 final carries extra drama.
Team USA arrives as overwhelming favorites, chasing a fifth consecutive World Cup title and riding a staggering 66-game winning streak in major international play that stretches back to 2006. Even without two-time MVP A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, both sidelined by health issues, the Americans boast one of the deepest and most talented rosters in recent memory. Head coach Kara Lawson will lean on veterans Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, Chelsea Gray, and Jackie Young, while injecting explosive youth in Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Aliyah Boston. The supporting cast of Kahleah Copper, Rhyne Howard, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen gives Lawson unmatched flexibility on both ends of the floor.
China, ranked No. 4 in the world and silver medalists in 2022, presents a unique challenge with its towering frontcourt. Han Xu returns from WNBA experience, and 7-foot-3 teenage sensation Zhang Ziyu offers rare size that few teams can match. The squad, coached by Gong Luming, also features guards Wang Siyu and Li Yuan, along with Chen Mingling, Yang Shuyu, and others. The absence of Li Yueru due to a passport issue leaves a gap inside, but China’s height and experience make them dangerous in Group D, which also includes Italy and Czechia.
This is more than just an opening game. For the USA it is the first step toward another gold and Olympic qualification momentum heading into Los Angeles 2028. For China it is a chance to prove their new-look roster can still compete with the world’s best. Expect high-paced offense from the Americans, led by Clark’s shooting and playmaking, matched against China’s size and physicality in the paint.
Every possession will matter. Fans in Berlin and around the globe will witness two basketball powers collide in what promises to be a thrilling start to the tournament. The world is watching—this is FIBA World Cup basketball at its finest.
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