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Sep 7, 2026
France ahead of Team USA: Les Bleues take the top spot in the FIBA Power Ranking
The French national team holds the top spot in the latest Power Ranking published by FIBA after the first round of the 2026 World Cup. Undefeated and particularly dominant in Berlin, Les Bleues now stand ahead of the United States, who were seriously shaken by Italy.
Photo Credit : FIBA
This ranking obviously won’t hand out any medals, but it reflects the impression left since the start of the competition. After three games, France was placed first in FIBA’s latest “Power Ranking,” ahead of Team USA and Belgium. A symbolic reward after a first round wrapped up with three wide wins, 305 points scored and only 178 conceded.
Three games, three showcases for France
Les Bleues first dominated Hungary (99-53), before beating South Korea (95-69) and then crushing Nigeria (111-56). Their combined margin over the three games thus reaches +127, or more than 42 points on average.
The last outing especially added several lines to the competition’s record books. With 22 three-pointers made against Nigeria, France set a new record for a Women’s World Cup game, surpassing Japan’s 20 makes set just a few days earlier. The 65 points scored in the first half is also a record for Les Bleues in the competition.
This dominance is questioned by some observers who claimed before the competition that Group B, which also included Hungary, South Korea and Nigeria, though tight, didn’t feature a real rival for the French. Either way, France left no suspense about the top spot, secured even before its final game.
France ahead of Team USA after the Italian scare
FIBA also justifies this change at the top by the much less convincing performance from the Americans against Italy. On Sunday, Team USA only won 55-52 after being pushed all the way to the final possessions. The defending champions shot just 29% and only 8.3% from three.
Those 55 points are their lowest total at a World Cup since the introduction of the three-point line in 1984. Italy thus came very close to inflicting on the United States their first defeat in the competition in twenty years.
Team USA nevertheless remains undefeated after wins against China (94-61), Italy (55-52) and the Czech Republic (105-64). The American squad also has to manage without A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, who withdrew for health reasons just before the tournament and were replaced by Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen.
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A subjective ranking before the do-or-die games
FIBA itself is careful to point out that its Power Ranking remains entirely subjective and is not an official ranking. France thus moves from second to first place, Team USA drops one spot, and Belgium completes the podium.
Still, the performances produced in Berlin have left a strong enough impression to change, at least temporarily, the hierarchy announced before the competition. After the Paris 2024 Olympic final lost by one point against the United States, Les Bleues now have a new opportunity to show how far this start to the World Cup can take them. Note that France and the United States cannot meet before a possible final.
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
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