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
On Sept. 4, the greatest women’s basketball players in the world will begin play in Berlin, Germany for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup.
This year’s tournament features 16 teams, which will begin by playing in a round-robin group stage. The top 12 teams will then advance to a single-elimination bracket-style competition.
Team USA enters the World Cup as the heavy favorites. The Americans have won nine of the last 12 FIBA World Cups, including four straight. The Americans, coached by Duke’s Kara Lawson, will be the only team in the tournament with a roster composed of all WNBA players.
But just how much are oddsmakers counting on Team USA to win?
According to the latest odds from BetMGM, Team USA is the only squad with minus odds. France, Belgium, Australia and Spain are also expected to be top contenders, but none have odds near as good as the Americans.
Here’s a look at the odds from BetMGM:
United States -500
Stacked with multi-time WNBA All-Stars at every position, the Americans enter this tournament as the team to beat, even without four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and five-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum, who will miss the tournament due to health reasons. Veterans like Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray and Napheesa Collier are back on the squad this year, along with rising young stars like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Sonia Citron and Paige Bueckers.
France +900
France carries eight WNBA players on its roster, including Dominique Malonga of the Seattle Storm, Gabby Williams of the Golden State Valkyries and Carla Leite of the Portland Fire. In the gold medal game of the 2024 Olympics, France came as close as anyone to dethroning Team USA in a major tournament, losing 67-66. Williams had 19 points and seven rebounds in that game.
Belgium +1100
Coached by Mike Thibault, who led the Washington Mystics to a WNBA championship in 2019, Belgium features five WNBA players and a collegiate standout in Nastja Claessens of Kansas State. The player to watch is Emma Meesseman, who now stars for Fenerbahçe in Turkey. She is a three-time EuroLeague MVP, a two-time EuroBasket MVP, a two-time WNBA All-Star and MVP of the 2019 Finals won by the Mystics.
Australia +1400
Coached by Sandy Brondello, who has won two WNBA championships, the Opals are always a tough out in these tournaments. This year’s team features seven WNBA players, including former co-Defensive Player of the Year Alanna Smith.
Spain +2500
Spain should be strong in the frontcourt where they’ll have a pair of WNBA players in rookie Awa Fam and Megan DiLeo. DiLeo — formerly Gustafson — was the 2019 National Player of the Year at Iowa and holds dual citizenship between the U.S. and Spain.
China +3300
China was the runner-up in the 2022 World Cup, taking the silver medal after losing to Team USA in the championship. Han Xu, who plays for the New York Liberty, was the fifth-leading rebounder in that World Cup and made the all-tournament team.
Germany +4000
The host country’s team features three WNBA players, including Leonie Fiebich of the New York Liberty. Former Syracuse standout Alexis Peterson — the 2017 ACC Player of the Year — will also play for Germany after representing the country the 2024 Olympics.
Japan +10000
Japan has not medaled in a World Cup since 1975, but they will host this tournament in 2030. The team is coached by Corey Gaines, who guided the Phoenix Mercury to a WNBA championship in 2009.
Nigeria +10000
The player to watch for Nigeria will be Amy Okonkwo, the former WNBA forward who has twice been named MVP of FIBA AfroBasket tournament. The team also features former Duke standout Elizabeth Balogun.
Italy +10000
Italy has never medaled in a World Cup or Olympics in women’s basketball. The Italians did win the bronze medal at the 2025 EuroBasket where Andrea Capobianco was named best coach.
Turkey +12500
This is just the third time Turkey has qualified for the World Cup. Keep an eye on Elif İstanbulluoğlu, who averaged 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this past season at Louisville.
South Korea +20000
South Korea hasn’t finished better than eighth in this tournament since 2002. The team has one WNBA player in Jihyun Park of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Mali +30000
This is the third World Cup appearance for Mali and the first time the team has qualified for back-to-back tournaments. Mali features one active WNBA player in Sika Kone of the Atlanta Dream and All-SEC standout Sira Thienou of Auburn.
Puerto Rico +30000
Puerto Rico made the quarterfinals in the 2022 FIBA World Cup. The roster features former WNBA player Imani McGee-Stafford and Trinity San Antonio, the latter of whom was the WAC Player of the Year in 2025 for Grand Canyon.
Hungary +50000
This is the first time Hungary has qualified for the World Cup since 1998. The roster features former UConn forward Dorka Juhasz, who has played for the Minnesota Lynx over the past three WNBA seasons.
Czechia +50000
This is the first time Czechia has qualified since 2014. They were runner-ups to Team USA in 2010.