Awa Fam on playing in FIBA World Cup
Callie Fin talks with Seattle Storm’s Awa Fam to discuss the upcoming FIBA World Cup.
Sports Seriously
Team USA’s bid to win a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s World Cup gold medal is off the good start after a convincing a 94-61 win over China on Friday, Sept. 4 in Berlin, Germany.
The Americans opened the World Cup clicking on all cylinders, led mainly by its young core. Four players finished in double figures, including Caitlin Clark, who had a double (14 points, 11 assists), Rhyne Howard, who had 14 points, and Paige Bueckers, who scored all 14 of her points in the second half.
“I think the ‘young and turnt’ crew, they did really well. They just kind of took what they wanted. They were the aggressors. They were confident, and they came in when their number was called,” Breanna Stewart said. “That’s what this team needs. It’s like, no matter what your minutes are gonna be, go out and play hard. Nobody’s gonna do it for you. We have to do it.”
The veterans of the group, like Stewart (seven points, seven rebounds) and Jackie Young (14 points), got the momentum started, but the younger players ran away with it in the second half, pushing the lead to 30-plus points. The ball movement was crucial down the stretch, and every player saw minutes Friday as Team USA collectively unleashed six blocks and racked up nine steals.
“I thought it was great team effort for us,” Team USA coach Kara Lawson said.
“China presented a lot of problems for us. Their size in the frontcourt, clearly, is a matchup problem for I think every team in the world, and I thought we did a pretty good job managing that. And they just got a lot of contributions from our players, and I thought Caitlin (Clark) was terrific, coming off the bench, changing the tempo of the game. Her playmaking, 11 assists. I thought Breanna Stewart’s leadership and defensive communication was excellent. I thought Rhyne Howard and Jackie Young in the first half — We just had a lot of different people in those moments step up and that’s what we need. We’re at our best when we have a lot of different people contributing.”
If you missed Friday’s game, USA TODAY Sports has the full breakdown of Team USA’s World Cup opener. Here’s the recap.
You knew it was coming. Caitlin Clark found Angel Reese at the 1:04 mark of the fourth to get her first double-double for the senior national team at the World Cup. Clark has 14 points and 11 assists.
The United States is getting whatever it wants versus China. At the 7:08 mark of the fourth quarter, the lead is 30, 75-45. China is shooting 29% from the field while allowing th United States to shoot 42% from the field.
Bueckers did not score in the first half for the United States, but she now has seven points and three assists at the 7:11 mark of the fourth. She also has this gorgeous steal and score.
Team USA is on cruise control, holding a 28-point lead after three quarters. Ten players have scored up to this point, with Rhyne Howard leading the way. Howard has 14 points, followed by Jackie Young with 12 points. Breanna Stewart (seven points, seven rebounds) and Caitlin Clark (eight points, eight rebounds) are working on double-doubles.
The USA went on a 19-6 run over the course of seven minutes to take a 20-point lead into halftime. Jackie Young (10 points, three assists) and Rhyne Howard (11 points) are doing the heavy lifting. Breanna Stewart has seven points and seven rebounds and Caitlin Clark who has five points and six assists.
The United States is shooting 44% from the field and 50% from 3-point range while holding China to 29% shooting from the floor while forcing eight turnovers. Xinyu Luo has 11 points to lead China.
At the 4:17 mark of the second quarter, Jackie Young becomes the first American in double figures with 10 points. Young got there in a clutch basket in the paint that drew a foul.
Team USA has gone absolutely cold, hitting one of its last 11 shots at the 5:37 mark of the second quarter. China got the lead down to eight points before Chelsea Gray got to the line to push the lead back to 10, 35-25.
The United States is rolling against China, taking a 27-14 lead after the first quarter. Ten players saw playing time and eight scored as the team shot 48% from the field. Jackie Young (seven points) and Rhyne Howard (six points) lead the group. Team USA also unleashed six 3-pointers from the floor, going six-of-13.
For China Xinyu Luo, has eight points and 3 rebounds.
At the 1:48 mark of the first quarter, Caitlin Clark scored her first points for the senior national team at the World Cup. The basket came on a driving layup.
The United States has already drained five 3-pointers early. Team USA is 5-of-8 from deep in the first quarter.
Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston were first off the bench for team USA. Both were subbed in at the 6:25 mark of the first quarter.
Here’s what’s different about FIBA play versus what you may see in the WNBA:
- The 3-point line is closer in FIBA competition, measuring at 20 feet and eight inches from the basket, while the WNBA’s line is 22 feet and 1.75 inches from the hoop.
- Like in college, each player is only allowed five personal fouls instead of six for WNBA play.
- There is no defensive three-second rule in FIBA play. Expect to see more zone defense than you might in the WNBA.
- The ball can be touched or swatted away after it hits the rim, whereas that would result in a goaltending violation in the WNBA.
- Only coaches can call timeouts in FIBA play.
- The court size is slightly more compact in FIBA play, measuring 2.13 feet shorter in length and .79 feet shorter in width than the WNBA.
- The game ball, made by Molten, has 12 panels and provides an extra unique grip. The WNBA uses an eight-panel ball made by Wilson.
At th 9:16 mark of the first quarter, Napheesa Collier scored Team USA’s first points on an assist from Chelsea Gray. Gray stole the ball moments before. The points were also Collier’s first ever at a World Cup.
The U.S.’ matchup against China has tipped off. China won the tip.
- Kahleah Copper, G/F
- Napheesa Collier, F
- Chelsea Gray, G
- Breanna Stewart, F
- Jackie Young, G
Wings’ Li Yueru will not play for China due to lost passport
When Team USA plays against China in their FIBA Women’s World Cup opener on Friday, China will be without a key player.
Li Yueru, who plays for the Dallas Wings, revealed in a statement posted on her Instagram account her passport was lost in the mail, preventing her from traveling to Berlin, Germany, to join the Chinese national team for the World Cup.
Yueru had previously played for China at the 2021 and 2024 Olympics, and in the 2022 World Cup where the Chinese captured the silver medal. This time around, her team will have to compete without her. Read Mitchell Northam’s full story here.
A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum out of World Cup
The U.S. women’s national team roster originally featured four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum, but both were ruled out four days before the World Cup began due to “health reasons.” Wilson was the MVP of the 2022 World Cup, which was Team USA’s fourth consecutive time capturing the World Cup.
“We’ll miss being around them … We wish them both a speedy recovery,” Kara Lawson said on Sept. 1. “But we don’t have time to be worried about who’s not here.”
Lawson says team will focus on chemistry and building with the players on the floor. A pair of young Washington Mystics in Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen will replace Wilson and Plum.
Team USA could face ‘most difficult’ FIBA Women’s World Cup yet
Team USA coach Kara Lawson isn’t sugarcoating the fact winning 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup gold will be challenging.
The U.S. women have largely dominated their international competition winning eight straight Olympic gold medals and nine of the last 12 World Cups dating back to 1979. The field is getting better and Team USA could have an uphill battle in this World Cup, which begins Friday, Sept. 4.
“It’s going to be the most difficult World Cup to win,” Team USA coach Kara Lawson said on Tuesday, Sept. 1. “There’s no question that the world is improving at a rapid rate. It’s so exciting to see … now when you look at rosters, there’s a number of just high quality players. I think the depth of these rosters is really strong.”
The 2026 FIBA World Cup field is made up of 16 countries, divided into four different groups. The entirety of Team USA’s roster is made up of WNBA players, while France and Australia’s national team aren’t far behind with eight WNBA players each. Spain has five WNBA players, while Germany and Belgium each have four. More details here.
Ranking the best players from across the world
It’s on Team USA’s new-look roster to carry the weight of competing against the 15 other teams filled with most talented women’s basketball players in the world. That effort begins on Sept. 4, in Berlin, Germany.
USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 10 players to watch based on their international resumes here.
How does the FIBA Women’s World Cup work?
This year’s tournament — Germany’s second time hosting — will feature 16 teams, four more than the 2022 World Cup, but the same number the competition had between 1990 and 2018.
Similar to soccer’s FIFA World Cup, the basketball version put on by FIBA features a preliminary round-robin group stage round. There are four groups each featuring four teams. The second- and third-place teams will advance to a Round of 12, while the first-place team from each group will advance directly to the quarterfinals. Including the third-place game, the tournament will feature a total of 36 matchups.
Who is favored to win the FIBA World Cup?
Team USA is favored to win the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, according to the latest odds from BetMGM. France, Belgium, Australia and Spain are also expected to be top contenders at the event, but the Americans are the only team with minus-odds.
FIBA World Cup groups: What countries made the 2026 tournament?
Group A
- Japan
- Spain
- Germany
- Mali
Group B
Group C
- Belgium
- Australia
- Puerto Rico
- Turkey
Group D
- United States
- Czech Republic
- Italy
- China
Team USA roster
- Head coach: Kara Lawson
- Assistant coaches: Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, Stephanie White
Headlining Team USA — which will be coached by Duke women’s basketball head coach Kara Lawson — are veterans like two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart, four-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray and former Defensive Player of the Year Napheesa Collier, as well as young stars in women’s basketball like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese.
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
| G | 4 | Paige Bueckers | 24 | 6’0″ | Dallas Wings |
| G | 5 | Sonia Citron | 22 | 6’1″ | Washington Mystics |
| SF | 6 | Rhyne Howard | 25 | 6’2″ | Atlanta Dream |
| G/F | 7 | Kahleah Copper | 32 | 6’1″ | Phoenix Mercury |
| G | 8 | Chelsea Gray | 33 | 5’11” | Las Vegas Aces |
| PF | 9 | Kiki Iriafen | 23 | 6’3″ | Washington Mystics |
| PF | 10 | Breanna Stewart | 32 | 6’3″ | New York Liberty |
| SF | 11 | Napheesa Collier | 29 | 6’1″ | Minnesota Lynx |
| G | 12 | Caitlin Clark | 24 | 6’0″ | Indiana Fever |
| G | 13 | Jackie Young | 28 | 6’0″ | Las Vegas Aces |
| C | 14 | Aliyah Boston | 24 | 6’5″ | Indiana Fever |
| PF | 15 | Angel Reese | 24 | 6’3″ | Atlanta Dream |
Team China roster
- Head coach: Gong Luming
- Assistant coach: Pierre Vincent
| Pos. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
| G | Wang Siyu | 30 | 5’11” | Sichuan Yuanda Meile |
| F | Yang Shuyu | 24 | 5’11” | Guangdong Vermilion Birds |
| C | Han Xu | 26 | 6’9″ | New York Liberty |
| F | Luo Xinyu | 24 | 6’2″ | Jiangsu Phoenix |
| C | Zhang Ziyu | 19 | 7’3″ | Shandong Six Stars |
| F | Jia Saiqi | 27 | 6’1″ | Sichuan Yuanda Meile |
| F | Chen Yujie | 26 | 5’10” | Shanxi Flame |
| PG | Zhang Manman | 29 | 5’7″ | Jiangsu Phoenix |
| F | Sun Yu | 22 | 6’0″ | Jiangsu Phoenix |
| F/C | Chen Mingling | 26 | 6’4″ | Guangdong Vermilion Birds |
| G | Tang Ziting | 26 | 6’3″ | Sichuan Yuanda Meile |
| PG | Li Yuan | 26 | 5’7″ | Sichuan Yuanda Meile |
Women’s World Cup: What time is USA vs. China?
Team USA opens the FIBA Women’s World Cup against China at 8:15 a.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 4, at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
- Date: Friday, Sept. 4
- Time: 8:15 a.m. ET (5:15 a.m. PT)
- Location: Max-Schmeling-Halle (Berlin)
What TV channel is USA vs. China on today?
TNT has the exclusive U.S. English-language rights. All 36 games stream on HBOMax. Seventeen of those games air on TNT and truTV, including every U.S. game.
Team USA FIBA women’s World Cup schedule
- Friday, Sept. 4: USA vs. China | TNT, truTV, HBO Max (8 a.m. ET)
- Sunday, Sept. 6: USA vs. Italy | TNT, HBO Max (2:30 p.m. ET)
- Monday, Sept. 7: USA vs. Czechia | TNT, HBO Max (2:30 p.m. ET)
The winner of each group will automatically advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Sept. 10 (TNT, truTV). The second- and third-place finishers of each group will play in the Playoff Qualification Round on Tuesday, Sept. 8 (truTV) to determine the final four quarterfinal spots. The semifinals will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12 (TBS, truTV), followed by the third-place game and final on Sunday, Sept. 13 (TNT, truTV).
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