MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments won't only feature the biggest global stars, they will also provide the perfect platform for some of the best emerging talents in the game. We've taken on the task of identifying some of the most exciting players aged 21 years or younger, who are ready to make a splash for their respective nations.
Dominique Malonga - France
CENTER
Birth Date: November 16, 2005 (20 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in)
Back after missing FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025, the towering frame of Malonga will give France a powerful presence in the paint and especially defensively.
Playing as a teenager at the last Olympics, Malonga won a silver medal at Paris 2024 and is living up to the hype of when she was even younger and famously dunking the ball.
Ziyu Zhang - China
CENTER
Birth Date: May 2, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 2.20m (7ft 3in)
An absolute phenomenon, even for a country with a conveyor belt of standout centers, Zhang is something special and unique.
Her size is unprecedented in the modern era of women's hoops and despite being only 18, she is a marquee baller already - as her dominant and leading scorer outing at FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025 would testify.
Kokora Tanaka - Japan
GUARD
Birth Date: January 10, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.72m (5ft 8in)
It was a fairytale 2025 for Tanaka who had been expected to light up the FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup, but was instead fast tracked to FIBA Women's Asia Cup.
She took the senior stage by storm as a fearless leader and made the All-Star Five with her sensational three-point shooting and also as a creator for teammates.
Frieda Buhner - Germany
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 28, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.86m (6ft 1in)
Landing on the center of the radar at Paris 2024 on Germany's debut at the Games when she produced some eye-catching efforts from the bench, Buhner was also outstanding at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 with an even more prominent role.
Unstoppable in EuroCup Women with Movistar Estudiantes, she's getting better and better.
Iyana Martin - Spain
GUARD
Birth Date: January 18, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.74m (5ft 9in)
The former FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup MVP and EuroLeague Women Young Player of the Year, Martin had her FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 debut cut short by illness.
Back on track and shining in EuroCup Women with Perfumerias Avenida, watch out for her scoring touch, tenacity and uber-competitive mentality. .
Leila Lacan - France
GUARD
Birth Date: June 2, 2004 (21 years old) Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Lacan won silver at Paris 2024 and posted some nice cameos. Since then she has turned up the dial massively and been an inspiring figure behind the Cinderella story of Basket Landes in EuroLeague Women this season.
Quick, smart and defensively a power, she can still land an impactful punch on a super talented and deep French roster.
Pahlyss Hokianga - New Zealand
GUARD
Birth Date: October 9, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 1.66m (5ft 5in)
As New Zealand look to the future, it has already arrived in the shape of Hokianga who having initially showed her potential in a big way at the U17 Worlds, went on to impress at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025.
She can become a prominent scoring threat for the Tall Ferns at senior level in time, with her IQ also helping her be a creator too.
Naomi Panganiban - Philippines
GUARD
Birth Date: June 5, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.70m (5ft 7in)
Despite being one of the youngest in the Philippines' lineup, Panganiban has already become a go-to option. Small but electrifying, she gets downhill with her quickness and has spin moves for days that serve her very well.
A tough player to slow down, she might average a double-digit points return and could even be the team's top scorer.
Awa Fam - Spain
CENTER
Birth Date: June 17, 2006 (19 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
After winning All-Star Five and MVP recognition at youth level, Fam received deserved plaudits with a super FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025 debut.
She helped Spain to the title game with a spectacular and power-packed Semi-Finals display that showcased her talent, potential and likely role as a main contributor on the senior FIBA stage.
Emma Cechova - Czechia
CENTER
Birth Date: July 12, 2004 (20 years old) Height: 1.95m (6ft 5in)
The talented center uses her length to excellent effect and Czechia have a twin towers option alongside their leader, Julia Reisingerova. Cechova is an assured baller who shone at the pre-Qualifying Tournament and at FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025.
Set to grow in stature, she'll be on the Czech podium for stats in many categories.
Syla Swords - Canada
GUARD
Birth Date: January 28, 2006 (20 years old) Height: 1.83m (6ft 0in)
It's been an awesome two years that have witnessed her becoming Canada's youngest ever Olympic player when she stepped out at Paris 2024, as well as winning bronze at FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2025 with a last gasp bucket in overtime.
Superb at the U19 Worlds too, this fabulous leader and do-it-all player is already a role model.
The final rosters will be officially confirmed on the eve of the respective Qualifying Tournaments. The players selected are not guaranteed to participate, with the list above for fan engagement purposes only.
FIBA