MIES (Switzerland) - As we head into the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments it's time to take a look at some of the players who can lay claim to some very distinct characteristics.
With the official rosters in Wuhan, Istanbul, Lyon-Villeurbanne and San Juan now confirmed, we're ready to look at the charts which reflect the tallest, shortest, oldest and youngest players stepping out at the showpiece global events.
Who is the tallest?
It's going to be a potentially unstoppable China frontcourt rotation, with the Qualifying Hosts not only relying on the energy of home support, but also boasting three of the four tallest players across all the Tournaments.
Teenage sensation and rising star Ziyu Zhang measures up at a towering 2.20m (7ft 2in) and is way out in front, followed by teammate Xu Han at 2.05m (6ft 8in).
It's only Mame Khoudia Fall of Senegal at 2.03m (6ft 8in) that is stopping China from completing a tallest podium sweep as she keeps Yueri Li in fourth spot at 2.01m (6ft 7in).
Rank | Name | Country | Height |
1 | Ziyu Zhang | China | 2.20m (7ft 2in) |
2 | Xu Han | China | 2.05m (6ft 8in) |
3 | Mame Khoudia Fall | Senegal | 2.03m (6ft 8in) |
4 | Yueru Li | China | 2.01m (6ft 7in) |
5 | Imani McGee-Stafford | Puerto Rico | 2.00m (6ft 7in) |
6 | Esra Ural Topuz | Türkiye | 1.98m (6ft 6in) |
- | Dominique Malonga | France | 1.98m (6ft 6in) |
- | Ji Su Park | Korea | 1.98m (6ft 6in) |
- | Kamilla Cardoso | Brazil | 1.98m (6ft 6in) |
10 | Kinga Josepovits | Hungary | 1.96m (6ft 5in) |
Who is the shortest?
The misconception that you need height and size to play basketball is so often smashed by those who excel despite being amongst the shortest players in a tournament. It's no better underlined than Rui Machida of Japan being on the list at 1.62m (5ft 4in), having famously set the Olympic game-high assists record in Tokyo.
Only Macarena D'urso of Argentina at 1.62m (5ft 4in) and Mayra Caicedo of Colombia at 1.61m (5ft 3in) who is the shortest player of all, are smaller than the Japanese superstar.
Rank | Name | Country | Height |
1 | Mayra Caicedo | Colombia | 1.61m (5ft 3in) |
2 | Macarena D'urso | Argentina | 1.62m (5ft 4in) |
- | Rui Machida | Japan | 1.62m (5ft 4in) |
4 | Stefanie Berberabe | Philippines | 1.62m (5ft 4in) |
- | Katerina Zeithammerova | Czechia | 1.62m (5ft 4in) |
6 | Mai Yamamoto | Japan | 1.63m (5ft 4in) |
- | Manuel Rios | Colombia | 1.63m (5ft 4in) |
8 | Jennifer Crowder | Germany | 1.64m (5ft 5in) |
- | Heji An | Korea | 1.64m (5ft 5in) |
- | Bella Nascimento | Brazil | 1.64m (5ft 5in) |
- | Debora Costa | Brazil | 1.64m (5ft 5in) |
Who is the oldest?
There's nothing quite like veteran know-how on a roster and especially when it comes to navigating the most challenging moments of any major FIBA event.
The oldest player stepping at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments is Pamela Rosado. The Puerto Rico guard has helped to guide her team to so many historical chapters in the past decade or so and will turn 40 years old this year. She is also one of just six players who were all born in the 1980's.
Rank | Name | Country | Birth Date |
1 | Pamela Rosado | Puerto Rico | April 30, 1986 |
2 | Mabel Martinez | Colombia | October 28, 1986 |
3 | Yvonne Turner | Hungary | October 13, 1987 |
4 | Sam Whitcomb | Australia | July 20, 1988 |
5 | Cayla George | Australia | May 1, 1989 |
6 | Maki Takada | Japan | August 23, 1989 |
7 | Sarah Ogoke | Nigeria | June 25, 1990 |
8 | Victoria Macaulay | Nigeria | August 7, 1990 |
9 | Kayla Alexander | Canada | January 5, 1991 |
10 | Jenifer Munoz | Colombia | February 1, 1991 |
Who is the youngest?
The youngest player set to take the court will be Sophia Dignadice of Philippines who will be just 17 years-old. The only player younger than 18, she is also one of two players born as late as 2008, with the other being Kinga Josepovits of Hungary.
Meanwhile several others on the youngest list feature show that age is no barrier to having a big impact on their respective teams and feature in our rising stars to watch.
Rank | Name | Country | Birth Date |
1 | Sophia Dignadice | Philippines | May 26, 2008 |
2 | Kinga Josepovits | Hungary | January 2, 2008 |
3 | Emma Rogers | New Zealand | November 8, 2007 |
4 | Marta Moscarella | Colombia | October 9, 2007 |
5 | Pahlyss Hokianga | New Zealand | October 9, 2007 |
6 | Sarah Judith Heyn | Philippines | October 1, 2007 |
7 | Ziyu Zhang | China | May 2, 2007 |
8 | Oummou Koumare | Mali | December 10, 2006 |
9 | Awa Fam | Spain | June 17, 2006 |
10 | Iyana Martin | Spain | January 18, 2006 |
Disclaimer: Our data has been taken from the final rosters validated at the technical meetings for each of the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments.
FIBA