BERLIN (Germany) - The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 provided the perfect platform for some of the best rising stars on the planet to highlight just exciting the future looks for global women's hoops.
While some showed big glimpses of their potential, there were others who have already become leaders for their respective nations.
This includes Iyana Martin who was named FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Rising Star and made the All-Star Five lineup. Meanwhile the strength of the candidate list another sign of the depth of young guns that made a splash.
Focusing on players 21 years old and younger, we've picked out some of those who stood out. You can also let us know by casting your vote in the fan poll below, which rising stars you enjoyed watching the most.
Iyana Martin - Spain
Listed as one of the rising stars to watch, she left with bronze medal, a place in the All-Star Five and as the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Rising Star. Her 17.5 points per game was simply stellar for a young baller.
Perhaps even more impressively, she did it excellently on both ends of the floor to such an extent that she led Spain in multiple statistical categories - as well as being the difference-maker in the Third Place Game. Incredible.
Awa Fam - Spain
While her Spanish teammate got the flowers and formal recognition with that All-Star Five place and the Rising Star honor, Fam was breathing down her neck for both. The forward also had a fabulous first Women's World Cup.
Her strength in the paint and ability to play defense in different positions was critical. She led Spain in rebounding and blocks, was second for efficiency and posted a very nice double-digit scoring return of 10.8 points per game.
Dominique Malonga - France
The size and length of Malonga predictably caused issues for opponents under both baskets and she showed that she has tremendous potential. While she did have a a few quieter games, she helped France make a first ever Final.
With more development and especially offensively, she is going to be a centrepiece for many years to come for her country. She had 11.8 points and 6.5 boards per outing, including a team-high 21 points in the title game with USA.
Ziyu Zhang - China
Because of how unique she is as a baller, there was such a strong spotlight on the center and Zhang emerged from her global debut having won even more fans. This included opposing players including the likes of Caitlin Clark.
They spoke about difficult she is to guard and how she was taking positive steps for someone still so young. Zhang finished the competition with a solid 8.8 points and 5.0 boards per game, shooting a near 63 percent from the field.
Kokoro Tanaka - Japan
It was a frustrating campaign for Japan who lost three of their four games, but can reflect on the continual upwards trajectory of Tanaka. The 20 year old finished as top scorer for her team with almost 15 points per game.
Also second for assists and in efficiency, she didn't even find her usual trademark accuracy from behind the three-point line. However, this underlines how the ceiling is so high for the guard in terms of still shining so brightly.
Kinga Josepovits - Hungary
While Hungary's hugely positive campaign and return after a 28-year absence to make the Quarter-Finals was led by their much talked about 'Twin Towers', maybe Josepovits did enough to make us all think again.
The teenage center did enough to ensure it goes beyond Dorka Juhasz and Virag Takacs-Kiss into 'Triple Towers'. She had a very nice cameo, shooting smart shots (8 of 13) and grabbed an average of 3 rebounds too.
Matilde Villa - Italy
The playmaker showed she has a leading role to play for Italy moving forward after logging 25 minutes per game in Berlin. This was part of a team who almost beat USA and were just squeezed out of the Quarter-Finals.
Villa finished as second top scorer with 10.0 points per game and one of only two Italian ballers to record double-digit scoring returns. Now she will look to turn up the dial in other areas of her game, especially creating for others.
Nastja Claessens - Belgium
The Cats' campaign ended up with a disappointing Quarter-Finals loss to hosts Germany, but one of the bright takeaways was that the Kansas State forward is growing in influence.
Even if her numbers were modest with 4 points per game, the fact she averaged 12.3 minutes per outing speaks volumes. That was the seventh highest on the Belgian roster, meaning she's broken into the core rotation.
FIBA