BERLIN (Germany) - FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Ambassador Pau Gasol believes the tournament in Berlin is providing a perfect snapshot of the remarkable growth of women's basketball around the world.
From the emergence of a new generation of stars to an increasingly competitive international landscape, the FIBA Basketball World Cup winner and two-time NBA champion has been impressed by what he has witnessed in Berlin.
For Gasol, the excitement surrounding this year's Women's World Cup is not an isolated moment. Instead, it is the result of years of work across the women's game finally beginning to bear fruit.
"Definitely, a significant growth," Gasol said when asked about the evolution of women's basketball since the previous World Cup in Sydney.
"I think it's a combination of factors, but everything kind of coming together at the right time. And I think a lot of the efforts that have been done previously are coming now to fruition and bearing fruit.
"So yeah, I think [it's] a great moment for women's basketball at this point in time. I think the World Cup is kind of a good reflection of that."
Yet the Spanish legend is equally keen for the momentum to continue.
"There is a lot to continue to do and continue to build, and a lot to be excited about," he added. "I think in the future, we can continue to see this growth improve and be even bigger."
A World Cup where nothing is guaranteed
One of the clearest signs of that progress has been the increasingly competitive nature of the international game.
Gasol pointed to the narrowing gap between the traditional powerhouses and their challengers, with the USA increasingly needing to be at their best to maintain their position at the top.
"It's just a reality of the game," he said. "It's great to see that the US has to bring their best game in order to continue to be dominant. And if not, they can be in trouble."
That unpredictability has helped set up an intriguing conclusion in Berlin.
While Gasol maintained that reigning champions USA should still be regarded as favorites, he was adamant that their status offers no guarantees - including against his native Spain in the Semi-Finals.
"If Spain plays a great game and the USA doesn't play a good game, I think there's a chance there," he said, adding that the same principle applies to whoever reaches the title game.
"USA still, because they are the champions, are considered and should be considered the favorites."
But ultimately, reputations and rankings only go so far.
"At the end of the day, it's what happens on the court and what the players do on the court," Gasol insisted.
"There's no givens here. There's no guarantees. So you have to go out there and compete and earn it."
Pau Gasol
Gasol excited by Spain's new generation
That message has particular resonance for a Spanish team that arrived in Berlin with a new generation taking on greater responsibility.
After missing the Women's World Cup in Sydney four years ago, Spain have returned to the global stage and reached the Semi-Finals - something Gasol views as confirmation that the country's next wave has already arrived.
"I think the team already here, it's a reality," he said. "They are in the Semi-Finals after missing the World Cup in Sydney. So I think it's a great bounce back from our country and our program."
Gasol credited Spain's sustained investment in youth basketball, pointing to the country's success across age-group competitions and the work being done by clubs and the domestic league.
That pathway has helped players such as Awa Fam and Iyana Martin make an immediate impact on their Women's World Cup debuts.
Gasol believes their performances are evidence of just how bright Spain's future could be – and even put both youngsters into the conversation when asked about potential tournament MVP candidates.
"Whether it's Awa or Iyana, even though they're very young, they are showing that they can play with the best and compete and perform with the best," he said.
"I would love to see one of them winning the MVP."
For Gasol, however, their rise is only part of a much bigger picture.
Berlin has showcased established stars, emerging talents and national teams increasingly capable of challenging one another at the highest level. As an Ambassador for the event, he sees the Women's World Cup as both evidence of how far the game has come and an indication of how much further it can go.
And with the biggest games of the tournament still to be played, Gasol is enjoying the uncertainty.
"I'm excited about the next couple of days, the semis and the finals," he said.
FIBA