United States to Compete in Puerto Rico for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament
The American team is preparing to compete in Puerto Rico during the month of March, within the framework of the qualifying tournament for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. The United States representatives, already qualified for the World Cup to be held next year in Germany, will share a group with Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Senegal and Spain. The competition calendar for the Americans will begin on March 11, facing Senegal, followed by a match against Puerto Rico the next day. On March 14, they will face Italy, and the next day, New Zealand. The closing of their participation will be on March 17 against Spain. The realization of one or two training camps for the American team is anticipated before the qualifying tournament. It is very likely that Caitlin Clark, star of the Indiana Fever, will participate in these preparations. During her end-of-season interviews, Clark expressed her intention to prepare to represent USA Basketball.Clark has been out of the courts since mid-July due to groin and ankle injuries.There are a few things with USA Basketball that are probably my main priority right now, that I need to prepare for, and I think that will also help me prepare for next season.
Caitlin Clark
Although Clark is very likely to participate, it’s possible that the US team won’t have its coach, Kara Lawson. The Duke women’s team coach was recently named coach of the US Olympic team for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The qualifying tournament for the World Cup will be held just before the start of the NCAA Tournament.
The Miami-based 3×3 league, Unrivaled, is expected to conclude its season before the start of the qualifier. In addition to Puerto Rico, FIBA will organize qualifying tournaments in Istanbul, Lyon-Villeurbanne (France) and Wuhan (China). Belgium, Australia and Nigeria have already secured their qualification for the World Cup, as has Germany, the host country. The three best-ranked teams, excluding those already qualified, in Istanbul, China and Puerto Rico, will advance to the World Cup. In France, the two best teams will advance, excluding Germany and Nigeria.
