BRNO (Czechia) - With players ready to touch down in Brno during coming days for their final FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 preparations, many are set to showcase themselves on the big stage.
We've been looking through the rosters and have picked out the Top 20 prospects to follow at the event - and very possibly for many years to come after that.
In the first of our two-part series, we take a look at prospects 20-11.
20. Fatma Abdella - Egypt
We tip-off with the FIBA U16 Women's AfroBasket MVP. Abdella was a key architect of her team's famous title success last year. While she is not a baller known for her huge productivity, she is a leader and knows how to make big plays and gel her team together.
19. Dominika Pencakova - Czechia
We have to give the thumbs up to one of the players from host nation Czechia and it's Pencakova who makes our list. She has some good size and will do damage from long-range if she can find some early rhythm. She's likely to be one of her team's top scoring contributors.
18. Belen Velazquez - Mexico
Distinctive for her passion and energy on the court - as well as standing out as her team's most impactful player, Velazquez is fun to watch. She deservedly made the FIBA U16 Women's AmeriCup 2025 All-Star Five. The guard will be a primary scorer and also pull the strings in the backcourt.
17. Jane Diomande - Cote d'Ivoire
As her nation takes its first footsteps, Diomande is certainly the jewel in the debutantes' crown. Her strength and athleticism makes her a handful and some double-doubles could be coming her way. Especially since she is also accelerating her skill-set on top of her physical attributes.
16. Sarlote Skrebele - Latvia
Impressive at the FIBA U16 Women's EuroBasket in Latvia's eye-catching run to the Semis, Skrebele has been elevated to star baller status after an injury to Sindija Sondore. Capable of being a standout player in her own right, the guard has played multiiple times in EuroCup Women with TTT Riga.
15. Anais Gobec - Slovenia
Having only just turned 15-years-old, Gobec could be one of Slovenia's big threats. A phenomenal talent, she has put up jaw-dropping numbers in WABA U17 League, collecting quadruple-doubles and individual honors. With a great all-around game and skill-set, she really can fill a highlights reel.
14. Shemar Broughton - New Zealand
An exciting player with bags of confidence, Broughton has great handles, the ability to create off the dribble and pull moves in the paint getting downhill. She is a go-to player for the clutch moments and showed her class last year as one of the top performers at FIBA U16 Women's Asia Cup.
13. Li Yuanshan - China
Whisper it quietly, but China might have found one of their most prolific scoring prospects ever. That is a big statement, but the potential is there and especially if she can replicate her amazing production at the U16 Asia Cup last year when she balled out for her country. Yuanshan was a walking bucket.
12. Mia Weigand - Germany
A deadly assassin of those she comes up against when she is in top gear, Weigand can shoot the lights out and take games away from opponents quickly with her perimeter skills. But also really adept on the glass and in helping her team in other ways, she is a fundamental pillar of this Germany side.
11. Claudia Lostal - Spain
Likely to be a huge driving force for Spain in their podium quest, Lostal is a smooth forward with lots of composure and evolving moves. A strong finisher, she has nice footwork, can get out and run the floor and it means she will be a really tough defensive assignment for whoever has to guard her.
Next Up: We take a look at the Top Prospect 10-1 in the second of our two part series.
*The Top 20 prospects are entirely subjective and are in no way a true and accurate FIBA ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author and the purpose is to entertain the fans.
FIBA