FIBA World Cup 2026 Results, Day 1 Group Box Scores, Highlights & Day 2 Schedule Before KO Bracket
The race to be crowned the best national team in women's basketball has started as the United States made its 2026 tournament debut in Berlin.
The 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup opened play Friday in Germany with eight group stage games.
Here's a look at the results and highlights from today's group stage action as the World Cup came a step closer to the knockout round.
.jpg?w=2560 "Vikings Bears Football")
Friday Schedule
| Japan 102, Mali 97 | 5:30 a.m. ET |
| Australia 70, Puerto Rico 54 | 5:30 a.m. ET |
| USA 94, China 61 | 8:15 a.m. ET |
| Korea 99, Nigeria 81 | 8:30 a.m. ET |
| Belgium 89, Türkiye 75 | 11:30 a.m. ET |
| Spain 83, Germany 53 | 11:45 a.m. ET |
| Italy 63, Czechia 54 | 2:15 p.m. ET |
| France 99, Hungary 53 | 3 p.m. ET |
Friday's Highlights
Japan 102, Mali 97
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Saki Hayashi (JPN) | 27 | 9/17 | 3 | 1 |
| Kokoro Tanaka (JPN) | 18 | 7/12 | 3 | 7 |
| Aminata Sangare (MLI) | 22 | 9/10 | 8 | 1 |
| Djeneba N'Diaye (MLI) | 22 | 8/13 | 1 | 6 |
| Sika Kone (MLI) | 21 | 10/19 | 11 | 5 |
Japan kicked off group stage play with one of the best shooting performances in FIBA World Cup history.
Japan made a single-game tournament-record 20 three-pointers in a 102-97 win over Mali.
Saki Hayashi made nine three-pointers to set the individual single-game tournament record, while Maki Takada hit a clutch late three-pointer to give her team the lead with 48 seconds remaining.
Australia 70, Puerto Rico 54
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Steph Talbot (AUS) | 19 | 7/9 | 8 | 3 |
| Alanna Smith (AUS) | 10 | 4/5 | 8 | 2 |
| Ezi Magbegor (AUS) | 11 | 5/11 | 9 | 1 |
| Arella Guirantes (PR) | 14 | 5/18 | 10 | 1 |
| Imani McGee-Stafford (PR) | 11 | 4/17 | 12 | 0 |
Australia opened the tournament in the win column after overcoming a mid-game push from Puerto Rico.
After finishing the first half with a six-point lead, Australia saw Puerto Rico climb within one point of tying the game in the third.
Australia responded with a nine-point run to regain a comfortable advantage before closing out the win.
Stephanie Talbot led her team with 19 points in the win, while Alanna Smith, Ezi Magbegor and Jade Melbourne each contributed double-digit point totals of their own.
USA 94, China 61
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Paige Bueckers (USA) | 14 | 6/9 | 0 | 4 |
| Caitlin Clark (USA) | 14 | 4/9 | 3 | 11 |
| Rhyne Howard (USA) | 14 | 5/12 | 1 | 0 |
| Xinyu Luo (CHN) | 13 | 4/10 | 6 | 0 |
| Xu Han (CHN) | 11 | 5/14 | 10 | 3 |
Team USA started out its bid to defend its 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup with a victory.
The Americans climbed out to a 13-point first-quarter lead and never looked back in a dominant win over China.
One of the toughest matchups for Team USA was 19-year-old Zhang Ziyu, who at 7-foot-4 is taller than every player in WNBA history.
Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard combined for seven three-pointers for Team USA, while Paige Bueckers and Kiki Iriafen recorded multiple blocks.
Team USA is back in action Sunday with a 2:45 p.m. ET game against Italy.
Korea 99, Nigeria 81
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Leeseul Kang (KOR) | 20 | 7/13 | 5 | 7 |
| Isaem Choi (KOR) | 19 | 7/10 | 3 | 3 |
| Amy Okonkwo (NGR) | 22 | 8/15 | 7 | 3 |
| Murjanatu Musa (NGR) | 15 | 7/16 | 13 | 1 |
Korea began their tournament by securing an upset of world No. 8 Nigeria.
Nigeria earned an early advantage and went on to fight through a tightly-contested first half.
Korea was outscored 23-22 in the second quarter by Nigeria as Ezinne Kalu helped lead her team within one point of tying the game.
Korea recovered by outscoring Nigeria 31-19 in the fourth quarter to close out the victory.
Isaem Choi, Leeseul Kang and Jihyun Park combined for 13 three-pointers in Korea's victory.
Belgium 89, Türkiye 75
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Emma Meesseman (BEL) | 27 | 12/21 | 9 | 5 |
| Julie Vanloo (BEL) | 22 | 8/14 | 3 | 2 |
| Sevgi Uzun (TUR) | 11 | 4/9 | 4 | 11 |
| Kennedy Burke (TUR) | 17 | 5/17 | 5 | 0 |
Belgium battled through two tight quarters before securing victory with a dominant second half against Türkiye.
Türkiye appeared to have a shot at an upset of the world No. 5 team after going into halftime with a one-point lead.
Belgium responded by outscoring Türkiye 27-9 in a third quarter push led by Julie Vanloo.
Emma Meesseeman, who scored a game-high 27 points, capped off the win by giving her Player of the Game award to Vanloo.
Spain 83, Germany 53
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Awa Fam (ESP) | 17 | 6/9 | 10 | 2 |
| Maria Conde (ESP) | 13 | 4/9 | 1 | 1 |
| Leonie Fiebich (GER) | 13 | 4/13 | 6 | 1 |
| Nyara Sabally (GER) | 10 | 3/14 | 3 | 2 |
Spain led for almost the entirety of a blowout victory over Germany.
Leonie Fiebich pulled Germany ahead with a bucket one and a half minutes in but was unable to help her squad upset the No. 6 team in the FIBA world ranking.
Awa Fam and Maria Conde combined for seven three-pointers as Spain converted half of its attempts from behind the arc. Spain's defense held Germany to just 17 percent shooting from deep in the loss.
Italy 63, Czechia 54
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Cecilia Zandalasini (ITA) | 19 | 7/20 | 5 | 3 |
| Matilde Villa (ITA) | 14 | 6/14 | 2 | 2 |
| Julie Pospisilova (CZE) | 21 | 8/16 | 4 | 1 |
| Veronika Vorackova (CZE) | 12 | 6/10 | 6 | 1 |
Underdog Czechia gave favored Italy a scare in their FIBA opener, but the Italians ultimately prevailed after outscoring their opponents by 11 points in the final 11 minutes.
Czechia led 45-44 with 1:05 left in the third quarter after Natalie Stoupalova's jumper, but Italy responded with an 8-0 run. Matilde Villa scored the final five points in that stretch, including a clutch three with three seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Italy led by five or more points for the entire fourth quarter, although Czechia had its chances. Neither team scored for a 3:57 stretch in the fourth with Italy up 52-47, but Czechia could not break through.
Italy is making its return to the World Cup for the first time since 1994.
They started with an important victory and now play the United States on Sunday. Czechia will play China on the same day.
France 99, Hungary 53
| Player | Points | FG | Rebounds | Assists |
| Dominique Malonga (FRA) | 17 | 6/9 | 10 | 1 |
| Gabby Williams (FRA) | 17 | 7/10 | 4 | 3 |
| Marine Johannes (FRA) | 17 | 5/10 | 2 | 2 |
| Dorka Juhasz (HUN) | 10 | 5/13 | 10 | 2 |
Three French players—center Dominique Malonga, forward Gabby Williams and shooting guard Marine Johannes—scored 17 points apiece to lead France to a resounding 99-53 victory.
France led 29-11 after the first quarter and 61-20 at halftime. Williams helped end the strong first half with this three in the closing minute.
They amassed 14 steals and ultimately scored 29 points off Hungary's 22 turnovers.
Hungary had some early momentum and led 5-4 in the first quarter, but France went on a 14-0 run en route to scoring 40 of the next 47 points.
Malonga, who started the tournament with a double-double in just 19-plus minutes, played a big role in that effort, notably making this first quarter layup off an assist from Pauline Astier.
Both teams will play next on Saturday. France will play Korea, and Hungary will face Nigeria.
.jpg?w=2560 "Amon-Ra Fined $60K")
.jpg?w=2560 "NFL Brazil Game Field Update")
