MIES (Switzerland) - The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournaments are almost here and that means an opportunity to see the biggest names in the sport fighting it out at the highest level. An array of stars are ready to take to the floor in Wuhan and we've picked out just some of the ballers to put on your must-watch list.
You can also use the fan poll below to cast your vote and let us know who you think will have the biggest impact at this tournament.
Emma Meesseman - Belgium
FORWARD
Birth Date: May 13, 1993 (32 years old) Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in)
One of the best players on the planet and already a legend of the women's global game, Meesseman was inspirational when crowned MVP for a second time last year in taking the Cats to consecutive FIBA Women's EuroBasket titles. The centerpiece of a talented Belgian team, she really does continue to do it all.
Ziyu Zhang - China
CENTER
Birth Date: May 2, 2007 (18 years old) Height: 2.20m (7ft 3in)
There is an incredible buzz about the longer-term potential of Zhang, who's not only about her astonishing size and presence under the basket. The rising star center has shown she's got the game to be impactful at the senior level - something highlighted by her leading scorer status at the FIBA Women's Asia Cup 2025.
Xu Han - China
CENTER
Birth Date: October 31, 1999 (26 years old) Height: 2.05m (6ft 9in)
While teenage teammate Zhang continues to take the spotlight during the past 12 months, there's no doubt that the class and experience of Han still makes her China's number one baller. Her height and sweet shooting range continue to torture opposing defenses and she will also be a TISSOT MVP frontrunner.
Julie Allemand - Belgium
GUARD
Birth Date: July 7, 1996 (29 years old) Height: 1.74m (5ft 9in)
A wizard when it comes to dishing out dimes, Allemand continues to direct traffic brilliantly from the backcourt and is one of the highest performing playmakers around. Her smarts and connections with colleagues make her a precious asset and if she continues her excellent club form this season, the Cats will be in a great place.
Delicia Washington - South Sudan
GUARD
Birth Date: May 11, 1997 (28 years old) Height: 1.67m (5ft 6in)
When South Sudan made history last year with that historic first ever FIBA Women's AfroBasket podium place, it was largely due to the superb contributions of Washington. The guard was the main architect of the landmark success, making the All-Star Five and the team will now need her to repeat those stellar displays.
Julia Reisingerova - Czechia
CENTER
Birth Date: April 17, 1998 (28 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 4in)
The potent combination of size, skills and experience means that whenever the center is on the court, Czechia are a far better team and a much tougher proposition for anybody. A real star, she's likely to be top scorer and rebounder, with Reisingerova the main option on offense and most things going through her whenever possible.
Damiris Dantas - Brazil
FORWARD
Birth Date: November 17, 1992 (33 years old) Height: 1.92m (6ft 4in)
With more than 15 years at the top for Brazil, Dantas continues to use her know-how and her renowned talent to maximum effect. The veteran forward made the FIBA Women's AmeriCup 2025 All-Star Five after pouring in more than 21 points per game - showing she could still be on course to continue shining at the world level too.
Kamilla Cardoso - Brazil
CENTER
Birth Date: April 30, 2001 (24 years old) Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in)
Like her teammate, Cardoso also made the All-Star Five at Continental level and underlined her class. It was at the Qualifying Tournaments in 2022 that she broke through on the global stage and has never looked back. Strong, composed and a defensive powerhouse, she's becoming a dominant performer and Brazil's number one star.
Sika Kone - Mali
FORWARD
Birth Date: July 13, 2002 (23 years old) Height: 1.90m (6ft 3in)
After a phenomenal career at youth level, Kone continued that momentum with some epic displays for the Mali senior team - including on debut at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2022. Her athleticism, mobility and raw power all help to terrorize opposing defenders and she will top the scoring and rebounding chart her country.
Maria Gakdeng - South Sudan
CENTER
Birth Date: June 9, 2003 (22 years old) Height: 1.89m (6ft 2in)
Landing a famous bronze medal on the most memorable night possible last year, the value of Gakdeng to South Sudan was clear to see. The North Carolina graduate has since gained experience in the Hungarian League and EuroCup Women, showing she can put points on the table as well as crashing the glass.
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