TOKYO (Japan) - The anticipation will be high when Miya Takeuchi steps out for her global tournament debut at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 in Brno. The highly talented guard, who plays the game with a distinctive style and often broad smile, heads into the competition having already turned heads as the MVP of the FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup last year.
The energetic youngster not only claimed the coveted accolade to banner the All-Star Five, but did so as both the leading scorer and distributor of dimes in the competition. Her eventual haul of 19.4 points and 6.6 assist per game was quite a feat, although perhaps most impressively of all, Takeuchi landed the MVP award despite Japan not even making the title game and having to settle for Third Place.
While she was always in contention to take the ultimate individual honor at the tournament, she sealed the deal on the last night of action at the Karisma Arena in Malaysia. She produced the kind of display that showed she could be the latest Japanese baller on a fast-track to senior stardom. Takeuchi caught fire as usual and propelled her side to a vibrant 71-58 success against fierce rivals China to take bronze, with the teenager lighting it up and dropping a display that returned 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Fast forward several months and she is not only being slated as one of the ballers to watch in Brno and a lock to be a standout leader for her country at the event, but her talent level has also raised another fascinating scenario.
Japan were recently announced as hosts of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2030 and so could that could mean Takeuchi is in a great spot to become one of the rising stars to watch at what promises to be a sensational event on home soil?
Sure, there is so much water to flow under the bridge during these next four years, but Takeuchi can look no further than to Kokoro Tanaka for inspiration. Her fellow guard was due to play on the same courts in Brno last year at the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup, but was withdrawn and thrust into the limelight at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup. She responded brilliantly, with her superior shooting skills helping her claim an amazing All-Star Five place on debut.
Just over a year later she is now expected to lineup for Japan at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin, Germany, this September having impressed in the Qualifying Tournament back in March. While still only potential as things stand, it feels like 2030 is now in play. Of course, the doubters might point to the diminutive frame of Takeuchi as problematic and at 1.61m (5ft 3in) she would have to operate as one of the smallest ballers at the elite level.
But on the flip-side, there is a very realistic scenario where if Takeuchi continues on her upwards trajectory, she could feasibly find herself lining up next to Kokoro at the 2030 edition of the famous competition.
Another big positive is that she has continued her form of 2025 into the current year. That witnessed her claim another MVP award when she wrote headlines at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament. Perhaps most importantly of all, the Tokyo 2030 dream is not only confined to Takeuchi. It's on offer to every Japanese baller stepping onto the floor in Brno - especially with so much time still to go. And, who would not be inspired by the amazing prospect of wearing a national team jersey in the biggest competition of them all - in your home country? It really doesn't get any better than that. FIBA