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
The 2026 FIBA World Cup is set to tip off in Berlin on Friday, Sept. 4, and the competition is stiffer than ever.
The U.S. women’s national team has won nine of the last 12 FIBA World Cups, including four consecutive, and hasn’t lost a World Cup game since 2006. But as parity grows around the world, the gap between Team USA and international competition is virtually nonexistent.
“It’s going to be the most difficult World Cup to win,” Team USA head 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.
Here’s the full roster breakdown of each country at the 2026 FIBA World Cup in Germany:
Group A
Japan (JPN)
- Head coach: Corey Gaines
- Assistant coach: Tomoki Miyata
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SG | 2 | Norika Konno | 26 | 5’10” | Eneos Sunflowers |
| PF | 3 | Stephanie Mawuli | 27 | 6’0″ | CB Avenida |
| SF | 6 | Otoha Goto | 19 | 5’10” | Tokyo Healthcare University |
| C | 8 | Maki Takada (C) | 37 | 6’1″ | Denso Iris |
| C | 10 | Ramu Tokashiki | 35 | 6’4″ | Toyota Antelopes |
| PG | 13 | Rui Machida | 33 | 5’4″ | Fujitsu Red Wave |
| C | 14 | Azusa Asahina | 22 | 6’1″ | Toyota Boshoku Sunshine Rabbits |
| SG | 23 | Mai Yamamoto | 26 | 5’4″ | Las Vegas Aces |
| G | 26 | Kokoro Tanaka | 20 | 5’8″ | Eneos Sunflowers |
| SG | 27 | Saki Hayashi | 31 | 5’8″ | Fujitsu Red Wave |
| PF | 52 | Yuki Miyazawa | 33 | 6’0″ | Fujitsu Red Wave |
| SF | 75 | Nanako Todo | 25 | 5’9″ | Toyota Boshoku Sunshine Rabbits |
Spain (ESP)
- Head coach: Miguel Méndez
- Assistant coach: Cristina Cantero, Raquel Romo, Anna Montañana
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 2 | Elena Buenavida | 22 | 5’9″ | Valencia Basket |
| PG | 4 | Mariona Ortiz | 34 | 6’0″ | Basket Zaragoza |
| G | 5 | Maite Cazorla | 29 | 5’10” | USK Praha |
| SF | 7 | Alba Torrens | 37 | 6’4″ | AzulMarino Palma |
| SF | 9 | Helena Pueyo | 25 | 6’0″ | Valencia Basket |
| SF | 10 | Maria Conde | 29 | 6’3″ | Toronto Tempo |
| C | 11 | Awa Fam | 20 | 6’4″ | Seattle Storm |
| C | 14 | Raquel Carrera | 24 | 6’3″ | New York Liberty |
| C | 17 | Megan DiLeo | 29 | 6’4″ | Portland Fire |
| PG | 18 | Alicia Flórez | 22 | 5’9″ | Washington Mystics |
| C | 20 | Paula Ginzo | 28 | 6’2″ | Žabiny Brno |
| PG | 44 | Iyana Martín | 20 | 5’9″ | Spar Girona |
Germany (GER)
- Head coach: Olaf Lange
- Assistant coaches: Stefan Möller, Parker Lovett, Constanze Wegner
| Pos. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | Emily Bessoir | 24 | 6’4″ | Hozona Global Jairis |
| PG | Clara Bielefeld | 19 | 6’5″ | Texas Christian University |
| F | Patricia Brossmann | 29 | 6’1″ | ASD Basket Costa Masnaga |
| F | Frieda Bühner | 22 | 6’1″ | Portland Fire/USK Prague |
| G | Britta Daub | 27 | 5’9″ | Kingfishes USC Freiburg |
| F | Emma Eichmeyer | 26 | 6’0″ | BC Saarlouis Royals |
| SF | Leonie Fiebich | 26 | 6’4″ | New York Liberty |
| C | Luisa Geiselsöder | 26 | 6’4″ | Portland Fire |
| C | Marie Gülich | 32 | 6’5″ | Townsville Fire |
| PG | Alexis Peterson-Smalls | 31 | 5’7″ | Valencia BC |
| F/C | Nyara Sabally | 26 | 6’5″ | Toronto Tempo |
| F | Lina Sontag | 22 | 6’3″ | Cadi La Seu |
| G | Alexandra Wilke | 29 | 5’9″ | Rutronik Stars Keltern |
Mali (MLI)
- Head coach: Mali Oumarou Sidiya
To be announced.
Group B
Hungary (HUN)
Head coach: Péter Völgyi
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 2 | Virág Kiss | 28 | 6’4″ | Valencia Basket |
| PG | 7 | Veronika Kányási | 27 | 5’10” | DVTK |
| G | 8 | Eszter Rátkai | 19 | 5’10” | KSC Szekszárd |
| G | 9 | Ágnes Studer | 27 | 5’6″ | PEAC-Pécs |
| PG | 10 | Nina Aho | 29 | 5’9″ | DVTK |
| C | 11 | Kinga Josepovits | 18 | 6’5″ | PEAC-Pécs |
| PF | 13 | Ágnes Török | 28 | 6’0″ | PEAC-Pécs |
| F | 14 | Dorka Juhász | 26 | 6’5″ | Minnesota Lynx |
| SG | 21 | Réka Lelik | 27 | 5’10” | DVTK |
| G | 22 | Yvonne Turner | 38 | 5’10” | Valencia Basket |
| G | 33 | Panka Dúl | 25 | 5’10” | PEAC-Pécs |
| PF | 55 | Judit Barnai | 32 | 6’2″ | Ceglédi EKK |
Korea (KOR)
- Head coach: Korea Park Soo-ho
| Pos. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | Yeeun Heo | 23 | 5’6″ | Cheongju KB Stars |
| G | Jihyun Park | 25 | 6’1″ | Los Angeles Sparks |
| F | Haeran Lee | 22 | 5’11” | Samsung Life Blueminx |
| C | Yusun Hong | 20 | 5’10” | Incheon Shinhan |
| G | Heji Ahn | 29 | 5’5″ | Busan BNK Sum |
| PG | Sohee Park | 23 | 5’10” | Bucheon Hana Bank |
| F | Sohee Lee | 26 | 5’7″ | Busan BNK Sum |
| PG | YoolimKang | 29 | 5’9″ | Samsung Life Blueminx |
| F | Leeseul Kang | 32 | 5’11” | Asan Woori Bank Woori Won |
| PF | Isaem Choi | 32 | 6’0″ | Busan BNK Sum |
| F | Hyun Jeong | 20 | 5’10” | Bucheon Hana Bank |
| C | An Jin | 30 | 6’0″ | Bucheon Hana Bank |
Nigeria (NGR)
Head coach: Rena Wakama
To be announced.
France (FRA)
- Head coach: Jean-Aimé Toupane
- Assistant coach: David Gautier, Christophe Léonard, Grégory Halin
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF | 11 | Valériane Ayayi | 32 | 6’0″ | Phoenix Mercury |
| F | 13 | Janelle Salaün | 24 | 6’2″ | Golden State Valkyries |
| C | 14 | Dominique Malonga | 20 | 6’6″ | Seattle Storm |
| SF | 15 | Gabby Williams | 29 | 5’11” | Golden State Valkyries |
| PG | 20 | Carla Leite | 22 | 5’9″ | Portland Fire |
| C | 22 | Marième Badiane | 31 | 6’3″ | PF Schio |
| SG | 23 | Marine Johannès | 31 | 5’10” | New York Liberty |
| SG | 28 | Mamignan Touré | 31 | 5’11” | Beşiktaş |
| C | 31 | Aminata Gueye | 24 | 6’3″ | Casademont Zaragoza |
| G | 42 | Leïla Lacan | 22 | 5’11” | Connecticut Sun |
| PG | 47 | Romane Bernies | 33 | 5’7″ | BLMA |
| G | 98 | Pauline Astier | 24 | 5’11” | New York Liberty |
Group C
Australia (AUS)
- Head coach: Sandy Brondello
- Assistant coach: Renae Garlepp, Paul Goriss, Kennedy Kereama
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | 2 | Jade Melbourne | 24 | 5’10” | Seattle Storm |
| SG | 4 | Alex Wilson | 32 | 5’9″ | Sydney Flames |
| SF | 6 | Stephanie Talbot | 32 | 6’2″ | Las Vegas Aces |
| F | 11 | Alanna Smith | 29 | 6’3″ | Dallas Wings |
| PG | 12 | Stephanie Reid | 30 | 5’5″ | Tasmania Jewels |
| F | 13 | Ezi Magbegor | 27 | 6’4″ | Seattle Storm |
| G | 20 | Isobel Borlase | 21 | 5’11” | Atlanta Dream |
| PF | 22 | Zitina Aokuso | 27 | 6’3″ | Adelaide Lightning |
| F | 23 | Alex Fowler | 25 | 6’4″ | New York Liberty |
| G | 32 | Sami Whitcomb | 38 | 5’10” | Phoenix Mercury |
| F | 34 | Isabelle Bourne | 25 | 6’2″ | Sydney Flames |
| PF | 55 | Chloe Bibby | 28 | 6’0″ | Minnesota Lynx |
Belgium (BEL)
- Head coach: Mike Thibault
- Assistant coaches: Pascal Angillis, Fred Dussart, Dena Evans
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 4 | Elise Ramette | 27 | 5’7″ | Joventut Badalona |
| PF | 5 | Nastja Claessens | 21 | 6’0″ | Kansas State Wildcats |
| SF | 6 | Antonia Delaere | 32 | 6’0″ | Minnesota Lynx |
| PF | 11 | Emma Meesseman | 33 | 6’4″ | Fenerbahçe |
| C | 13 | Kyara Linskens | 29 | 6’4″ | Phoenix Mercury |
| SF | 22 | Bethy Mununga | 29 | 6’0″ | ASVEL Basket |
| C | 25 | Becky Massey | 26 | 6’1″ | Basket Landes |
| SF | 31 | Maxuella Lisowa-Mbaka | 25 | 5’10” | CS Rapid București |
| C | 34 | Billie Massey | 26 | 6’1″ | CB Jairis |
| PG | 35 | Julie Vanloo | 33 | 5’8″ | New York Liberty |
| PG | 55 | Julie Allemand | 30 | 5’9″ | Toronto Tempo |
| F | 71 | Alicia Courthiau | 20 | 5’10” | Wisconsin Badgers |
Puerto Rico (PUR)
Head coach: Gerardo Batista
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | Tayra Melendez | 32 | 5’11” | |
| SG | 2 | Brianna Jones | 29 | 6’11” | |
| G | 3 | Nina De Leon | 23 | 5’6″ | |
| PG | 5 | Pamela Rosado | 40 | 5’5″ | |
| G | 6 | Zaida Gonzalez | 23 | 5’9″ | |
| C | 21 | Sofia Roma | 29 | 6’0″ | |
| PG | 23 | Trinity San Antonio | 22 | 5’8″ | |
| G | 24 | Arella Guirantes | 28 | 5’11” | |
| F | 24 | Kaelynn Satterfield | 25 | 5’1″ | |
| F | 33 | India Pagan | 27 | 6’2″ | |
| C | 34 | Imani McGee-Stafford | 31 | 6’6″ | |
| G | 55 | Jacqueline Benitez | 29 | 5’10” |
Türkiye (TUR)
- Head coach: Andrea Mazzon
- Assistant coach: Murat Alkaş, Fatih Emre Gezer
To be announced.
Group D
China (CHN)
- Head coach: Gong Luming
- Assistant coach: Pierre Vincent
To be announced.
Czechia (CZE)
Head coach: Romana Ptáčková
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PG | 1 | Kateřina Zeithammerová | 24 | 5’4″ | Žabiny Brno |
| SF | 2 | Julie Pospíšilová | 27 | 6’0″ | Flammes Carolo Basket |
| PF | 3 | Alena Hanušová | 35 | 6’3″ | DSK Brandýs |
| SG | 4 | Gabriela Andělová | 30 | 5’8″ | USK Praha |
| PF | 5 | Natálie Stoupalová | 28 | 6’1″ | Žabiny Brno |
| G | 7 | Petra Malíková | 23 | 5’10” | USK Praha |
| SF | 8 | Veronika Voráčková | 30 | 5’11” | Basket Zaragoza |
| PG | 10 | Eliška Joklová | 27 | 6’0″ | Minnesota Lynx |
| PG | 12 | Monika Fučíková | 24 | 5’11” | Žabiny Brno |
| SG | 13 | Petra Holešínská | 29 | 5’10” | Botaş SK |
| C | 16 | Kateřina Kalná | 19 | 6’3″ | USK Praha |
| C | 20 | Natálie Koucká | 23 | 6’5″ | USK Praha |
Italy (ITA)
- Head coach: Andrea Capobianco
- Assistant coaches: Vincenzo Di Meglio, Alessandro Fontana, Angela Gianolla
| Pos. | No. | Name | Age | Height | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF | 0 | Jasmine Keys | 28 | 6’2″ | PF Schio |
| SG | 5 | Matilde Villa | 21 | 5’7″ | Reyer Venezia |
| G | 6 | Francesca Pasa | 26 | 5’9″ | Reyer Venezia |
| SG | 8 | Costanza Verona | 27 | 5’7″ | Dallas Wings |
| SF | 9 | Cecilia Zandalasini | 30 | 6’2″ | Golden State Valkyries |
| SG | 11 | Francesca Pan | 29 | 6’0″ | Reyer Venezia |
| C | 13 | Lorela Cubaj | 27 | 6’4″ | Reyer Venezia |
| PF | 14 | Sara Madera | 26 | 6’2″ | Magnolia Basket Campobasso |
| PG | 18 | Mariella Santucci | 29 | 5’7″ | Reyer Venezia |
| SG | 19 | Martina Fassina | 27 | 6’0″ | Reyer Venezia |
| C | 22 | Olbis Andrè | 27 | 6’4″ | PF Schio |
| G | 55 | Vittoria Blasigh | 22 | 5’9″ | UCF Knights |
USA
- Head coach: Kara Lawson
- Assistant coaches: Natalie Nakase, Nate Tibbetts, Stephanie White
| 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 |
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