The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin delivered a tournament filled with record crowds, historic milestones, and breakthrough performances. A total of 236,015 spectators attended the competition, surpassing the previous attendance record of 145,519 set in Sydney in 2022. Here are four of the tournament’s most notable storylines. 

Team USA extends its dominance as Breanna Stewart makes history 

The United States continued its dominance in women’s basketball, defeating France 97-79 in the final to capture its 12th World Cup title. The victory also extended the Americans’ winning streak in the competition to 36 games and matched the Soviet Union’s record of five consecutive titles. 

However, the Americans faced some of their toughest challenges in years on the road to the championship. Italy pushed the US to the brink in the group stage, coming within three points of an upset, while Spain stayed within 10 points of the eventual champions. France then gave the Americans another major test in the final, taking a 31-17 lead in the second quarter before the US rallied. 

Leading the charge was captain Breanna Stewart, who was named tournament MVP. The forward finished the final with 22 points and 10 rebounds, becoming the first player to win the Women’s World Cup MVP award twice. 

Germany makes a breakthrough on home soil 

Germany made history in front of its home crowd by reaching the semifinals in only its second appearance at the Women’s Basketball World Cup. The team’s previous appearance came 28 years earlier, when it finished 11th. 

After losing to Spain in the group stage, Germany bounced back with four consecutive victories to reach the quarterfinals. There, the hosts produced one of the tournament’s most convincing wins, defeating Belgium 93-74 to secure a place in the semifinals. 

Germany’s run ended with a loss to France in the semifinals, followed by another defeat to Spain in the bronze-medal game. Still, the team’s performance marked a significant step forward for German women’s basketball. Forward Leonie Fiebich was also rewarded for her strong tournament with a place in the All-Star Five. 

France continues its rise 

France entered the tournament ranked No. 2 in the FIBA World Ranking, setting high expectations for the team. It lived up to that billing, producing a strong run to the final. 

The French team dominated its opponents on the way to the championship game, winning by an average margin of around 35 points before facing the United States. In the final, France stunned the Americans with a strong opening, building a 14-point lead at 31-17 in the second quarter before eventually falling 97-79 and settling for silver. 

Gabby Williams was one of France’s key performers throughout the tournament. The forward averaged 18.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game and earned a spot on the All-Star Five. 

Spain returns to the podium 

Spain arrived in Berlin ranked sixth in the FIBA World Ranking, a notable drop from its position among the world’s top three teams before missing the 2022 World Cup. 

The Spaniards endured a difficult start, suffering a surprising 82-73 loss to Mali in the group stage. They responded strongly, however, defeating Germany 81-58 in the bronze-medal game to secure a place on the podium. 

Spain also recorded a win over third-ranked Australia and pushed eventual champions USA in a competitive matchup, showing that the team remained a force among the world’s top women’s basketball nations. 

Iyana Martín led Spain in the bronze-medal game with 22 points, nine assists, and four rebounds. Her performance earned her a place on the All-Star Five alongside Fiebich, Stewart, Williams, and Jackie Young. 

Looking ahead to Tokyo 2030 

With Berlin 2026 now in the books, attention turns to the next FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Tokyo in 2030. 

The Berlin tournament provided plenty of memorable moments—from Team USA’s continued reign and Germany’s breakthrough to France’s strong challenge and Spain’s return to the podium. The next edition will have a tough act to follow.