BERLIN (Germany) - With only two previous FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup appearances on their resume and a modest finish at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025, it's understandable why few people will consider Türkiye as contenders to go deep in the competition.
Missing out on Sydney 2022, their return to the big stage is something few had anticipated, but now opportunity knocks loudly for a nation who can make positive waves if they click.
Replicating their Semi-Finals place on debut as hosts in 2014 is unlikely, but anything is possible if they navigate a tricky group phase. They have some experience and high level players to make their mark in the German capital and you never quite know what Türkiye will serve up - which makes them highly dangerous for their opponents.
How they qualified
Some excellent play and amazing home support at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments in Istanbul meant the hosts squeezed through. It was a nerve shredding and roller-coaster ride. They won against Canada and Japan, but lost unexpectedly to underdogs Argentina and then to Australia and Hungary.
FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament (Istanbul, Türkiye) Gameday 1: Canada 69-71 Türkiye (W) Game Report Gameday 2: Türkiye 55-59 Argentina (L) Game Report Gameday 3: Japan 67-75 Türkiye (W) Game Report Gameday 4: Türkiye 74-77 Australia (L) Game Report Gameday 5: Türkiye 74-89 Hungary (L) Game Report
Women's World Cup pedigree
Number of participations (including 2026): 3
Last participation: 2018 (10th)
Best finish: 4th (2014)
Podium finishes: None
Current FIBA World Ranking for Women, presented by Nike: 16th
Last 10 FIBA events
Year | Event | Location | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
2025 | FIBA Women's EuroBasket | Piraeus, Greece | 7th |
2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | Did not participate |
2023 | FIBA Women's EuroBasket | Ljubljana, Slovenia | 14th |
2022 | FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | Sydney, Australia | Did not participate |
2021 | FIBA Women's EuroBasket | Valencia, Spain | 14th |
2020 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | Did not participate |
2019 | FIBA Women's EuroBasket | Belgrade, Serbia | 14th |
2018 | FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | Tenerife, Spain | 10th |
2017 | FIBA Women's EuroBasket | Prague, Czechia | 5th |
2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 6th |
The Group Phase
The biggest issue for Türkiye is landing in a group that contains two Continental champions in the shape of FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 winners, Belgium and FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 winners, Australia. Both will be formidable opposition. But in any one-off game, they can dream of causing a surprise. Whatever happens, Türkiye will know they will be expected to move past Puerto Rico and get at least one win on the board.
Group Phase Games
Belgium vs Türkiye (Sep 4) Türkiye vs Australia (Sep 6) Puerto Rico vs Türkiye (Sep 7)
Players to watch
Sevgi Uzun is a brilliant leader for her country and the guard takes care of so many of the intangibles, as well as being a leading playmaker, deal-breaker and go-to performer. She has recently made the controversial switch from reigning EuroLeague Women champions Fenerbahce to fierce city rivals Galatasaray, but the whole of the city will be united behind her when in Berlin wearing national team colors.
Kennedy Burke being naturalized has been a masterstroke. The do-it-all baller was on fire in the Qualifying Tournament and hr contributions were decisive in making it to Berlin.
She has a great mix of skills, can go inside or outside and will be the marquee baller for her adopted country. Although that also means plenty of defensive attention and how she handles this will be vital in her team's prospects.
Fear and Hope
The fear is the draw and facing two sides that on paper are genuine contenders to make the Final. That is so tough to have to deal with early. It asks questions of whether they have enough bench depth in terms of top drawer quality for the big moments when needed - especially if Burke is not firing, or in foul trouble or absent.
The hope is that with as much international experience as anyone on their roster, they can come together and use their team ethic to dig out big results. The likes of Olcay Cakir, Alperi Onar and Tilbe Senyurek are ballers capable of supporting the headline duo andmaking their nation highly competitive. On their night, this is a team that can do some serious damage to any opponents.
FIBA