MIES (Switzerland) - The selected candidates of She Calls Game 2026 have been announced, with the quartet now ready to make the most of an exciting opportunity to tell the story of the sport at the upcoming FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026.
Cementing FIBA as a leader in empowering women in sports media, as well as being a core part of FIBA's strategic priority Women in Basketball, the latest edition of She Calls Game is set to generate even more creative storytelling and authentic user-driven content to promote the sport.
Building on the program's momentum from 2022, applicants were encouraged to capitalize on FIBA's commitment to providing an enhanced range of options for aspiring women by taking part in the initiative.
With roles available for a commentator, content creator, content writer and photographer, the participants submitted examples of their work, with those subsequently shortlisted also receiving guidance and training from a range of FIBA colleagues across various media areas.
The selected candidates for each position are:
Commentator Maia Williamson (New Zealand)
Maia is a graduate of the New Zealand Broadcasting School and a lead commentator for Sky Sport New Zealand, covering the country’s top professional basketball leagues. She also works across local and national age‑group competitions.
Content Creator Lara Zugck (Germany)
Lara is a Germany‑based content creator with a background in basketball and a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, specializing in Media and Communication. She began creating content in 2020, worked with the German Basketball Federation during the FIBA EuroBasket 2022, and has since gained further experience through internships across multiple sports.
Content Writer Sindiswa Mabunda (South Africa)
Sindiswa is a sports journalist and University of the Witwatersrand graduate who writes for The Big Tip Off and previously contributed to Forbes SportsMoney, covering African sport. A former collegiate basketball player, she has reported on the FIBA AfroBasket, the BAL, and FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, with a strong focus on basketball's growth in Africa.
Photographer Katarina Puskasova (Slovakia)
Katarina is a Slovakia‑based photographer with a strong passion for sports and visual storytelling, focused on capturing real moments, intensity, and emotion. A former player, Katarina has experience in photographing basketball for the Slovak Basketball Association and the Slovak Basketball League.
All four of the selected candidates will head to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin from September 4-13 to showcase their talents.
Importantly, the She Calls Game initiative is also in place to potentially build skills, capacity, and an even stronger, diverse, and talented media team for future FIBA events, not just within the women's game.
FIBA