2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Betting Preview & Picks
The 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup kicks off on Friday, and teams from across the globe will battle it out in Berlin for world supremacy. Only the very best out of the 16 teams participating will have an opportunity to be crowned the champion of women's international basketball. We’re going through what we consider to be the top six teams with the best chance of lifting the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Trophy at the end of the tournament. The United States enters as the reigning champs. However, with the surge of talent overseas over the last four years, it's very possible that a new champ is crowned. Check out our 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup betting preview below.
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2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Betting Preview
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
The contests begin very early on Friday (5:30 a.m. ET), with Australia and Puerto Rico kicking things off. Games start at 5:30 a.m. ET every day for the first stage. Team USA plays on Friday at 8:15 a.m. ET and at 2:45 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Without any further preamble, let's get into some of the teams vying to win the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
Australia (Group C)
- Odds to Win Tournament: +2200
- Head Coach: Sandy Brondello
The Australian team suffered a major loss recently when captain Sami Whitcomb was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. Head coach Sandy Brondello is still left with a highly formidable team, consisting of Alanna Smith, Ezi Magbegor, Jade Melbourne, Stephanie Talbot, Chloe Bibby and Isobel Borlase.
Australia is ranked third in the world. Yet, not having Whitcomb on the floor complicates things. Whitcomb has a 36% career three-point rate. The extra three-point threat and floor-spacing ability will certainly be missed.
Australia has more than enough pieces to make a splash through the first few rounds and appears to be the best team in their grouping. They may fall short as the competition increases in the later stages, however.
Spain (Group A)
- Odds to Win Tournament: +3500
- Head Coach: Miguel Mendez
Spain enters the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup games ranked sixth in the world. Awa Fam, Maria Conde, Megan Dileo and Raquel Carrera headline a very talented team. Spain has a strong advantage against most teams due to the shooting prowess of their bigs.
Dileo has been on quite the scoring surge as of late. She was averaging 15 points on a phenomenal 59% shooting from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc. Fam is an incredibly streaky shooter. However, when the streak favors the hotter side of things, the young center is quite unstoppable. Fam knocked down eight three-pointers over the last four games - including four in one game.
Spain plays in one of the tougher groups. Germany and Japan will no doubt make things difficult for Spain to advance. However, their level of talent may be the deciding factor. Spain is one of the deeper sleepers and a team the competition will do well not to overlook.
China (Group D)
- Odds to Win Tournament: +3500
- Head Coach: Gong Luming
As is the case with Australia, China suffered a major loss with Li Yueru unavailable to compete after not receiving her passport in time. Just a brutal break for a team that may have assembled its strongest roster ever. Han Xu from the New York Liberty and 19-year-old seven-footer Zhang Ziyu will try to lead the team to victory despite being shorthanded.
China would have had a very special frontcourt with Yueru. Such a vast size in the paint gave China a hefty advantage over any opponent. The current roster will have to rely on forcing turnovers on defense and slowing things down offensively so they can run set plays for open looks. China drew the unlucky draw of being paired with Team USA - whom they play on Friday.
Belgium (Group C)
- Odds to Win Tournament: +2000
- Head Coach: Mike Thibault
When you have Emma Meesseman as the captain of your team, you're almost guaranteed a high ranking (third). The veteran forward may not be in the WNBA this season, but that doesn't erase the fact that she is still one of the best basketball talents in the world.
Messeman is surrounded by quite a few WNBA players, and Belgium is definitely on the radar as being one of the biggest sleepers in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
Julie Allemand, Julie Vanloo, Kyara Linskens and Antonia Delaere make up the supporting cast on this experienced squad. Expect Belgium to move the ball in a very efficient manner, as they attempt to break down the opposition's defense and take advantage of open looks.
Belgium won the 2023 FIBA EuroBasket Championship and can take on the best in the world when the lights are brightest.
France (Group B)
- Odds to Win Tournament: +700
- Head Coach: Jean-Aime Toupane
On to what many consider the biggest threat to Team USA. This French team is absolutely stacked with talent. Depth will be a deciding factor given the condensed schedule, and France has the firepower to push them very far in the tournament.
The backcourt for France is made up of Carla Leite, Marine Johannes, Pauline Astier and Leila Lacan. As for the frontcourt, Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaun, Valeriane Ayayi and Dominique Malonga are going to be nothing short of a nightmare for opponents.
Aside from Team USA, France has put together the most talented roster among participants. You're getting back +700 if France can raise the cup; that's well worth a small sprinkle of your bankroll.
Team USA (Group D)
- Odds to Win Tournament: -360
- Head Coach: Kara Lawson
We close things out with the team that will be representing the United States of America. A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum were unable to make the trip to Berlin, which certainly changes things.
Not only are you losing veteran leadership, but Plum is one of the most lethal scoring threats in the game. Teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron were added to the roster. However, those are very large shoes to fill.
Sportsbooks are heavily favoring Team USA to win it all, but are they being overly ambitious? If head coach Kara Lawson chooses to run a starting five of veterans and brings youth off the bench, things could get ugly quickly for their opponents.
Let's say the starting five consists of Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier and Breana Stewart. Off the bench, you would have Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Sonia Citron, Angel Reese, Kiki Iriafen and Aliyah Boston. You'd be hard-pressed to find a starting five that would be able to keep up with that avalanche of youth, pace and talent, let alone any second unit. The bench would come in and simply blow the opposition off the court in that scenario.
Either way, it will be exciting to see how the rotations shake out, and to see Team USA put on a showcase for the world to experience.