Team USA just absolutely went off in their opening game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, taking down China 94-61 on Friday! If you weren’t watching, you seriously missed a statement game. The world’s best women’s basketball players are officially battling it out in Berlin, Germany, and our squad came out absolutely swinging to kick things off.
Team USA’s Title Defense Kicks Off With a Bang
Let’s be real, Team USA is always a force in this tournament. We’re talking about a squad that has won nine out of the last 12 World Cups, including an insane four straight since 2010. That’s not just dominance, that’s a dynasty in the making! This year’s team looks just as strong, maybe even stronger. Coach Kara Lawson is leading the charge, and the roster is absolutely stacked with electrifying stars like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese. Seeing them drop 94 points right out of the gate against China? That’s the kind of pure, unadulterated energy you want from a defending champion. They showed everyone in Berlin they mean serious business from tip-off.
World Cup Heats Up With Expanded Bracket and Global Talent
This year’s bracket is bigger than the last one in 2022, expanding back to 16 international squads. That’s the typical number we’ve seen since 1990, so buckle up for some intense competition! The tournament starts with a high-stakes round-robin group stage, and then it’s straight into the do-or-die elimination rounds. Beyond the USA’s big win, Friday, September 4th saw some other wild games. Australia took down Puerto Rico 70-54, Japan barely edged out Mali 102-97 in a high-scoring thriller, and Korea beat Nigeria 99-81. Belgium came out on top against Turkey 89-75, Spain absolutely dominated Germany 83-53 on their home court, Italy got past Czechia 63-54 in a tighter contest, and France crushed Hungary 99-53. The intensity is already through the roof across the board!
Don’t Miss a Single Game: How to Watch the Action Unfold
You absolutely do not want to miss any of this action as the tournament unfolds. The entire 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup is being broadcast by TNT Sports. You can catch select, must-watch games live on TNT, truTV, and TBS. If you’re cutting the cord, no worries at all. Many games are streaming exclusively on HBO Max, and you can also stream them live with DIRECTV. The whole thing kicked off Friday, September 4th, and the championship game is set for Sunday, September 13th. Our Team USA is back in action on Sunday, September 6th against Italy at 2:30 p.m. ET. You can catch that game on TNT, DIRECTV, and HBO Max. Can they keep that incredible winning streak alive and chase another title? You absolutely have to tune in to find out! This tournament is going to be epic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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