U.S. draws Belgium, Russia in FIBA Women's World Cup qualifiers
The United States senior women's basketball team has drawn Belgium, Russia, and Puerto Rico for their FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournament in February, it was announced Tuesday.
The games will effectively serve as exhibitions for the U.S., as the team has already qualified for next fall's World Cup because they are the reigning Olympic champions. Host nation Australia has qualified as well. The 14 other participating teams will vie for the 10 remaining spots.
The qualifying tournaments will run Feb. 10-13 at three host sites. Washington and Osaka will each host one group, while Belgrade will host two groups simultaneously.
* - Indicates a team has already qualified for the World Cup.
Group A (Belgrade A)
| Country | FIBA Rank |
|---|---|
| Australia* | 3 |
| Serbia | 9 |
| Brazil | 14 |
| Korea | 19 |
Group B (Belgrade B)
| Country | FIBA Rank |
|---|---|
| France | 5 |
| China | 7 |
| Nigeria | 16 |
| Mali | 41 |
Group C (Osaka)
| Country | FIBA Rank |
|---|---|
| Canada | 4 |
| Japan | 8 |
| Belarus | 11 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 27 |
Group D (Washington)
| Country | FIBA Rank |
|---|---|
| United States* | 1 |
| Belgium | 6 |
| Russia | 12 |
| Puerto Rico | 17 |
The 2022 FIBA Women's World Cup will take place in Sydney in September and October.
HEADLINES
- Collier needs surgery on both ankles, expected to miss 4-6 months
- 26 stories we're most excited about for 2026 (Part 1)
- Blake Griffin, Candace Parker among 1st-time nominees for Naismith HOF
- WNBA players union authorized to strike if needed during CBA talks
- Toronto Tempo unveil jerseys for inaugural season