The historic moments defining the 2026 Women’s World Cup so far

The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup returned to a 16-team field for the first time since 2018, after 12 teams took part in the 2022 edition in Sydney. Germany is hosting the tournament for the first time since 1998, according to visitberlin.de. Through the preliminary round, the competition has already produced a 3-point scoring record, two of the biggest upsets in the event’s history, and a near-miracle against the United States.

Germany reaches the quarterfinals for the first time in its history

Germany’s run through this World Cup could hardly have started worse. The host nation opened the tournament with a 30-point loss to Spain at the Uber Arena in Berlin, a result that cooled expectations around the Mannschaft. Four days later, the mood had flipped entirely. Germany beat Japan 74-58, then Mali 83-58 in the group phase, before closing out a third straight win, 94-56 over South Korea, in the quarterfinal qualification game.

That victory over South Korea was decisive, and lopsided. It secured Germany’s first-ever appearance in the Top 8 of a Women’s World Cup, a milestone for German basketball at a tournament being played on home soil. The Mannschaft will now face Belgium, the reigning European champion, in the quarterfinals on Thursday, September 10, at 5:45 p.m.

France rewrites the 3-point record book

France broke a three-day-old 3-point record on Monday, making 22 3-points in a 111-56 win over Nigeria, topping the 20 that Japan had hit against Mali just days earlier, according to AP’s Doug Feinberg writing for the Yakima Herald. Gabby Williams made six of eight attempts, Marine Johannes hit five, and France finished 22-for-40 from behind the arc. Migna Toure’s triple with 5:45 left sealed the record. “I didn’t know we broke the record, to me it was just a corner 3,” Toure said.

France, silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics after a one-point loss to the U.S., has won its three preliminary games by an average of 43 points and is chasing its first medal-round appearance in 73 years, having last reached the podium at the 1953 World Cup. “Our depth is definitely going to be our strength,” Williams said. “It’s physical, it’s tough. You know, it’s fatiguing. So if we can be able to just put someone on the court for five minutes, they give their all and our intensity never drops. That’s going to be our goal.”

Mali and Hungary make history, Italy pushes the Americans to the brink

Mali stunned Spain 82-73 on Saturday, September 5, for just the second World Cup win in the country’s history, according to The Guardian. Sika Kone, who plays for the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Djeneba N’Diaye also scored 19 for a Mali team that entered the game 1-10 all-time in the tournament. Hungary also made history, edging Nigeria 71-67 for its first World Cup victory since 1998, when it beat China in the quarterfinals. Dorka Juhasz, who suits up for the Minnesota Lynx, posted 19 points and 16 rebounds, with Virag Takacs-Kiss adding 17; Amy Okonkwo led Nigeria with 17 in the loss.

Italy, playing in the tournament for the first time since 1994, came within a few plays of one of the biggest upsets in Women’s World Cup history before falling to the United States 55-52 on Sunday, according to AP via Bastille Post. It was the fewest points the Americans had scored in a World Cup win since 1967, and Italy nearly handed the U.S. its first tournament loss since 2006. Cecilia Zandalasini led Italy with 14 points. “I feel like the way we play we learn so much about ourselves that we can compete against everybody,” said point guard Mariella Santucci. “To play like that with the USA is special, but it makes us think that we are a special team and we can do something special.” Zandalasini added: “I would like to apologize for how I reacted in the end. It was a lot of emotions today, but I should have kept them inside of me a little better.”

With the preliminary round behind them, those results set the stage for a quarterfinal round that could test whether Germany’s home-court push, France’s depth, Mali’s and Hungary’s newfound belief, and Italy’s competitiveness carry over into the medal chase.

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