BRNO (Czechia) - There's a mammoth early clash scheduled to take place at the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 as two of the frontrunners for silverware meet each other in Group A.
The only two nations to have ever been crowned champions will face each other in the shape of USA and Australia, who also arrive as U16 AmeriCup and U16 Asia Cup champions respectively.
In the flip-side, this also means a seriously tough task lies in wait for Latvia and even more so for the only debutantes at this year's edition in Côte d'Ivoire.
The Favorite: USA
Not just the favorite to be cemented as Group A winners, but also runaway favorites to be crowned champions. Is there really any stopping the USA? Well, an early test against Australia will be interesting and means the reigning champions will need to click early, rather than clicking through the gears as the competition unfolds.
But they have the talent, depth and tradition that puts them way above anyone else in this tournament - on paper at least.
The Underdog: Côte d'Ivoire
The joy of taking their first global footsteps might drain away quickly, since they could barely have been handed a more challenging group. It will also be a daunting start against the dominant USA and trying to stay competitive will be the aim.
They will feel that facing Latvia will give them the best opportunity for a surprise and historic first success. They can maybe take heart from fellow African nations Mali and Egypt having claimed U17 and U19 victories.
The Pivotal Game: USA vs Australia
It's a blockbuster meeting and it looks like it has the potential to ultimately be a rehearsal for the title game itself. While USA are favored to win it all as usual, the Sapphires could be their nearest rivals for silverware. That means we get an early glimpse of their rivalry and see who can make an early statement of intent.
Whoever wins this one will also surely secure top spot in Group A. There will also be an array of All-Star Five contenders on show too.
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Looking for more about the teams in the Group? Don't forget to check our other pieces telling you more about each nation's prospects.
FIBA