MADRID (Spain) - Spain confirmed their status as one of the frontrunners at the upcoming FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 after a 21-strong candidate list was named ahead of September's trip to Berlin.
Head coach Miguel Mendez will have some tough choices to make in the weeks ahead in trying to narrow it down to his final 12 picks as the team prepares to face host nation Germany, along with Japan and Mali in the first phase. After finishing an agonizing second at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025, Spain will look to jump onto another podium at the World Cup having made their first ever Final in 2014, either side of bronze medals in both 2010 and 2018.
The shock of losing out altogether on a spot at Sydney 2022 will also be uppermost in the minds of those more experienced players who will want to make amends. With many young players coming through, the veteran know-how of Maria Conde, Mariona Ortiz and Alba Torrens could be vital. There will also be huge excitement around Spain's frontcourt rotation which can be considered as one of the most talented to be heading to the German capital.
Rising star Awa Fam was sensational last year on her senior tournament debut at FIBA Women's EuroBasket and has already talked about her excitement at the prospect of her first World Cup outing.
Meanwhile Raquel Carrera is always a big threat and the naturalized Megaan Gustafson could end up being a lock to lead her team in both points and rebounds.
There will also be plenty of hype around the inclusion of the free-scoring young gun Iyana Martin, who like Fam, will step out at the senior global level for the first time. Her FIBA Women's EuroBasket campaign last year was frustratingly cut short by injury.
But having briefly lived up to expectations off the back of her sensational FIBA U19 Women's Basketball World Cup 2023 display which saw her crowned TISSOT MVP and then shining at the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan, there will be big expectations on the guard's shoulders again. Spain booked their place at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments in San Juan back in March, although perhaps didn't quite click into top gear with losses to both Italy and USA. But everyone will be expecting them to be a big threat in Berlin with such an exciting and quality mix of youth and experience.
FIBA