When is Team USA playing in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup?
The U.S. opens its title defense against China in Berlin before facing Italy and Czechia in group play.
T eam USA begins its run at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup on Friday, Sept. 4, with a group-stage matchup against China in Berlin.
The tournament runs through Sept. 13 in Germany, bringing together 16 national teams for the biggest women's international basketball competition between the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2028 Los Angeles Games .
All games will take place in Berlin, with action split between the 14,000-seat Berlin Arena and the 9,000-capacity Max-Schmeling-Halle.
For American viewers, every Team USA game will be available on TNT or TruTV, while all 36 games at the tournament will stream live on HBO Max. NBC Sports reports that TNT and TruTV will carry 17 games overall, including every U.S. contest.
The Americans enter the tournament with enormous expectations. Head coach Kara Lawson 's team is attempting to extend an extraordinary run of success on the international stage.
According to NBC Sports, the U.S. has won 66 consecutive games across Olympic and World Cup competition, with its last defeat coming against Russia in the 2006 World Championship semifinals.
This year's roster also brings together an intriguing mix of established veterans and some of the biggest young stars in women's basketball.
Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese headline the group, with all three entering their first major senior World Cup.
They join veterans including Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray, Napheesa Collier, Kahleah Copper and Jackie Young . Aliyah Boston, Rhyne Howard, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen round out the 12-player roster.
Team USA's World Cup schedule and how to watch
The opening phase gives the Americans three games in four days, making the schedule a demanding early test.
Friday, Sept. 4 — USA vs. China
Team USA starts against China at 8:15 a.m. Eastern time. The game tips off at 2:15 p.m. local time in Berlin. It is the first opportunity for the new-look American group to establish its rhythm in a tournament where every game carries significance.
Sunday, Sept. 6 — USA vs. Italy
The Americans return to action two days later against Italy. The later start makes this the more convenient game for U.S. viewers, although it also gives the team less recovery time between contests.
Monday, Sept. 7 — USA vs. Czechia
The group stage concludes against Czechia on Sept. 7. The U.S. will then learn its exact route through the knockout rounds based on the final Group D standings. The official FIBA schedule lists the group phase through Sept. 7 before the tournament moves into its final stages.
The three group games are the only Team USA matchups that are currently fixed regardless of results. If the Americans advance, their schedule continues on Sept. 10 in the quarterfinals.
A quarterfinal victory would put Team USA into the semifinals on Sept. 12, followed by either the championship game or third-place game on Sept. 13. FIBA has confirmed those knockout-round dates, but the exact opponents and game slots depend on how the group and qualifying rounds play out.
That format means American fans could potentially see the U.S. play as many as six games in Berlin: three group contests, a quarterfinal, a semifinal and the championship game.
For viewers who want to follow the entire tournament rather than just Team USA, FIBA says Courtside 1891 on DAZN will provide live and on-demand coverage of every game, with English commentary and Spanish available for selected contests. FIBA also recommends checking individual game pages because broadcast partners can vary by country.
The World Cup represents another major test for a U.S. program that has dominated women's international basketball for two decades.
With Clark, Bueckers and Reese joining a veteran core, the Americans have plenty of star power, but the challenge now is translating that talent into another gold-medal run. The first step comes Friday morning against China.
