The 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup reaches its first deciding day on Sunday, when the United States, Italy, China and Czechia close Group D play in Berlin with two matchups that will set the quarterfinal picture.
Group D comes down to Sunday
China meets Czechia in the early game, and Italy faces the defending champion United States later in the day. After Friday's openers, the United States and Italy sit at 1-0, while China and Czechia are 0-1. Sunday's results will decide the final group order, and the top two teams advance to the knockout rounds. The early game carries special weight for China, which must beat Czechia to keep its path to the top two in its own hands. A loss would leave China relying on other results and on tiebreakers. For Czechia the math is the same: win, and the group stays open; lose, and its tournament could end on Sunday.
A 94-61 start for the Americans
The United States opened the tournament with a 94-61 win over China, the team it beat in the 2022 final. Italy began its campaign with a 63-54 victory over Czechia, a result that put Italy in control of its own path to the quarterfinals. China, the silver medalist three years ago in Sydney, now needs a win over Czechia to stay alive at the top of the group.
A ticket to Los Angeles 2028
Sixteen teams are competing in Berlin, the largest field since 2018, and 36 games will be played across the city's two main arenas through September 13. The champion earns a direct place in the women's basketball tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics; the United States already holds a spot as host nation. With every team still in contention in Group D, Sunday's games carry real weight for all four rosters.