The United States women's national basketball team will open its FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup campaign on Sunday, September 6, at 1:45 p.m. CT, with television coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. on TNT and streaming on HBO Max. The matchup pits Team USA against Italy in the first game of Group D, a stage that includes China, Italy and Czechia.
The tournament format features four groups of four teams each, with the second‑ and third‑place finishers moving on to a Round of 12 that leads to the quarterfinals. Finishing atop Group D would grant Team USA a direct ticket to the quarterfinal round, a prospect the squad is eager to achieve after a strong showing in the qualifying tournament held in Puerto Rico.
Key Players
Caitlin Clark, the tournament’s MVP of the qualifying event, heads the roster alongside key contributors Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart and Kahleah Copper. Head coach Kara Lawson oversees a squad that also includes Breanna Stewart and the recently sidelined A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, who were ruled out for health reasons. The depth of talent, highlighted by Clark’s 11.6 points and 6.4 assists per game average, positions the Americans as favorites to dominate the group.
After the World Cup concludes, the team will return to the WNBA, facing the Indiana Fever on Friday, September 18. The competition will feature a total of 36 games across the four groups, with the top‑placed teams from each group advancing directly to the knockout stage.