A'JA WILSON AND KELSEY PLUM ARE OUT. NINE PLAYERS ARE MAKING THEIR WORLD CUP DEBUT. USA GOES IN YOUNGER THAN EXPECTED.

Last week, we shared that USA Basketball Head Coach Kara Lawson said the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup would be the “the most difficult World Cup we’ve had.”

Although the United States did go 3-0 in Group B play, the 2022 FIBA champions narrowly escaped Italy on Sunday. This is the same Italy the U.S. beat 55-52 at the 2026 Olympic Qualifying Tournament in March, and who is making its first FIBA World Cup appearance in over 30 years.

In a viral speech, Lawson told her team, “Let this be the last time that a team plays with more passion than us throughout the course of the game. Let this be the last time that all 12 don’t show up to compete at a high level.”

The USA took down Czechia with no issue. Now they need to await their Quarterfinals opponent en route to what they hope is another World Cup gold medal.

Let’s recap Group Play and list tournament leaders through three games.

Four groups. Four winners. Twelve teams still alive.

🇪🇸 GROUP A — SPAIN Day 3: Spain 79, Japan 59 · Germany 83, Mali 58

Final standings: Spain 2-1 · Mali 2-1 · Germany 1-2 · Japan 1-2

Spain wins Group A and advances directly to the quarterfinals. Mali upset Spain on Day 2 and held on to finish second — advancing to the qualification round alongside Germany, who avoided elimination as host nation with a statement win over Mali on Monday. Luisa Geiselsoder led Germany with 17. Japan is eliminated.

🇫🇷 GROUP B — FRANCE Day 3: France 76, Nigeria 65 · Hungary 66, Korea 56

Final standings: France 3-0 · Korea 2-1 · Hungary 1-2 · Nigeria 0-3

France swept group play by a combined +72 point differential through two games and never looked threatened. Korea and Hungary advance to the qualification round. Nigeria is eliminated — the D'Tigress finish without a win despite a tournament-best performance from Amy Okonkwo.

🇦🇺 GROUP C — AUSTRALIA Day 3: Australia 82, Belgium 68 · Puerto Rico 75, Türkiye 71

Final standings: Australia 3-0 · Belgium 2-1 · Puerto Rico 1-2 · Türkiye 0-3

Australia wins Group C outright. Belgium advances as the runner-up. Puerto Rico saved their tournament with a Day 3 win over Türkiye and advances to the qualification round. Türkiye is eliminated.

🇺🇸 GROUP D — USA Day 3: USA 88, Czechia 62 · Italy 71, China 65

Final standings: USA 3-0 · Italy 2-1 · China 1-2 · Czechia 0-3

USA went 3-0 through group play. Italy edged China in a critical Day 3 matchup to secure the second seed. China advances as the third seed. Czechia is eliminated.

🇯🇵 Japan · 🇳🇬 Nigeria · 🇹🇷 Türkiye · 🇨🇿 Czechia

Eight teams. Four single-elimination games. Win or go home.

The winners join Spain, France, Australia, and USA in Thursday's quarterfinals.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

🇲🇱 Mali vs. 🇭🇺 Hungary

🇰🇷 Korea vs. 🇩🇪 Germany

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

🇧🇪 Belgium vs. 🇨🇳 China

🇮🇹 Italy vs. 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico

Eight teams. Four games. Single elimination. The winners join Spain, France, Australia, and USA in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Tuesday, September 8
Group B2 vs. Group A3 — Korea vs. Germany - 17:45 CET / 11:45 AM ET
Group A2 vs. Group B3 — Mali vs. Hungary - 20:45 CET / 2:45 PM ET

Wednesday, September 9
Group D3 vs. Group C2 — China vs. Belgium - 17:45 CET / 11:45 AM ET
Group C3 vs. Group D2 — Italy vs. China - 20:45 CET / 2:45 PM ET

All times TBD. Games available on TNT, TruTV, and HBO Max.

SCORING LEADERS

REBOUNDING LEADERS

ASSISTS LEADERS

EFFICIENCY LEADERS

USA LEADERS (through 2 games)
Points: Jackie Young 11.0 ppg · Rebounds: Breanna Stewart 9.0 rpg · Assists: Caitlin Clark 6.0 apg · Efficiency: Paige Bueckers 14.5 FIBA Basketball

Everything you need for the knockout round — every roster, the full bracket, WNBA connections, World Cup history — is in the BRM Berlin 2026 Field Guide. Updated through group play.

[Access the Field Guide →]

Starting Five and Legacy 22 subscribers: reply to this email for access to the live Excel tracker, updated through every round.

Brian Fleurantin goes live tonight to break down group play, preview the qualification round, and talk about what it means for the teams still standing.

Here is how the Liberty players are competing at the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup

New York Liberty legend Emma Meesseman (lol … and ugh, still gutted) is the second-leading scorer in the tournament with 18.3 points per game. Former Seattle Storm player and 2026 All-Star starter Gabby Williams leads all scorers with 18.7 PPG through three games.

On the next episode of Gotta Get Up! A Podcast for New York Liberty Fans, we’ll discuss the latest FIBA Women’s World Cup news, and the calls for Kara for the next New York Liberty head coach.

Catch it on the Black Rosie Media YouTube Channel:

Everything you need for the knockout round — every roster, the full bracket, WNBA connections, World Cup history — is in the BRM Berlin 2026 Field Guide. Updated through group play.

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