U.S. Women’s Basketball Opens FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Puerto Rico

United States to Face Puerto Rico in FIBA World Cup Qualifiers

The U.S. women’s basketball team is preparing to compete in Puerto Rico in March, as part of the qualifiers for the FIBA World Cup. Already qualified for next year’s World Cup in Germany, the Americans share a group with Italy, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Senegal and Spain. The competition calendar for the United States is as follows:

• March 11 vs. Senegal
• March 12 vs. Puerto Rico
• March 14 vs. Italy
• March 15 vs. New Zealand
• March 17 vs. Spain

It is anticipated that the team will conduct one or two training camps prior to the qualifying tournament. Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark is likely to participate in these training sessions.

“There are some things with USA Basketball that are probably my main priority right now to prepare, and I think that will also help me prepare for next season,” Clark commented last week.

Caitlin Clark

Clark has been out of the courts since mid-July due to groin and ankle injuries. Although Clark’s participation is highly probable, it is possible that the American team will not have its coach, Kara Lawson. The Duke women’s team coach was recently named U.S. Olympic coach for the Los Angeles 2028 Games. The World Cup qualifier will take place just before the start of the NCAA Tournament. In addition to Puerto Rico, FIBA will organize qualifying tournaments in Istanbul, Lyon-Villeurbanne (France) and Wuhan (China). Belgium, Australia, and Nigeria are already qualified for the World Cup, as is Germany, the host country. The three best-performing teams in Istanbul, China and Puerto Rico, excluding those already qualified, will advance to the World Cup. In France, the two best teams, excluding Germany and Nigeria, will also secure their place in the tournament.