Photo taken from @usabasketball on instagram
The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup starts tomorrow as 16 teams aim for one title, World Champions. USA are reigning champions and there are many WNBA players featuring in this year’s competition: here are some players to watch.
Australia: Jade Melbourne and Ezi Magbegor
Melbourne and Magbegor both play for Seattle Storm in the WNBA where they currently sit bottom heading into the break after only winning eight games. Jade Melbourne plays as a guard and has spent three years in the top league after being drafted in 2022 becoming the 33rd pick, where she was picked up by Seattle Storm. This season, she is averaging 9.5 points per game, as well as 3.9 assists per game making her a player to watch for Australia from the WNBA.
Ezi Magbegor was drafted in 2019, being the 12th pick and has six years experience in the WNBA. The forward-center player was a WNBA Champion in 2022, An All-Star in 2023 and in the All-defensive team four times. She has been with the Storm since her draft night and this season on average has 6.9 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per game making her a player to keep your eye on during the World Cup.
Games (all in BST times):
Australia vs Puerto Rico – Friday 4th at 10:30am
Turkey vs Australia – Sunday 6th at 10:30am
Belgium vs Australia – Monday 7th at 10:30am
France:
Leila Lacan and Carla Leite are two of France’s upcoming talents with this only being their third year in the WNBA, where both was picked one after another in the 2024 draft. Leila Lacan plays her basketball at Connecticut Sun where the Guard was picked 10th overall. Her averages this season are making her a player to watch this campaign after playing for a team out of play off contention. Her stats of 11.6 points per game and 4.6 assists per game are making the youngster an upcoming talent for the WNBA.
Carla Leite has had a standout season so far for the new franchise, Portland Fire. After coming into the WNBA, she started with Dallas Wings before transferring to Golden State Valkyries in the Expansion Draft where she also spent last season. With 15.5 points per game average, she is becoming a young player to watch especially for a French side that is coming off a silver medal in the Olympics.
Games (all in BST times):
Hungary vs France – Friday 4th at 8pm
France vs South Korea – Saturday 5th at 7:45pm
Nigeria vs France – Monday 7th at 1:30pm
Spain:
Rookie Awa Fam just joined the Seattle Storm side this season and is already having an impact for the squad. Her charm and play is improving match by match and hopes it reflects in the National team for the tournament. The 20 year old was picked third in this year’s draft behind Azzi Fudd and Olivia Miles and is a Eurobasket Silver Medalist for Spain. She also became the youngest player to play for Valencia Basket at just 15 years old. The Center’s statistics are also impressive with an average of 10.6 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game making her a young player to watch statistics wise.
Games (all in BST times):
Spain vs Germany – Friday 4th at 4:45pm
Mali vs Spain – Saturday 5th at 10:30am
Japan vs Spain – Monday 7th at 4:50pm
USA:
Paige Bueckers is definitely not underrated but always a player to watch when a new tournament comes around. She was the number one pick last season for the Dallas Wings with the Guard only in her sophomore season in the WNBA. She was a WNBA All-Star two years in a row and was the Kia WNBA Rookie of the Year in 2025. This season alone, she is averaging 20.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 5.9 assists per game which is making her a player to watch as she hopes to get USA back to back Champions despite it being her first major tournament under the USA name.
Games (all in BST times):
USA vs China – Friday 4th at 1:15pm
Italy vs USA – Sunday 6th at 7:45pm
USA vs Czech Republic – Monday 7th at 7:45pm