Looking at the WNBA schedule and wondering why there is a two week break in games?
That’s because the league is taking a break from Monday until September 16 for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup where a number of top players will compete for their national teams. Players began arriving in Berlin this week, with the group stages of the tournament scheduled to take place on September 4.
This break is standard procedure during any Olympic year, but historically the World Championship has taken place after the WNBA regular season. With the WNBA’s expanded footprint, the 2026 World Series required a late-season break. And as the pool of international talent in the WNBA has grown, even more stars will be on the global stage this season.
The USA Women’s National Team will compete for its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal with a roster of some of the WNBA’s biggest stars. Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and Phoenix Mercury guard Kelsey Plum were late scratched from Team USA’s lineup due to injuries. But a new era of players, including Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Paige Bueckers (Dallas Wings) and Angel Reese (Atlanta Dream), will debut with other young stars like Aliyah Boston (Fever) and Rhyne Howard (Dream). Washington Mystics teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will also make their debuts, replacing Wilson and Plum. Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx) and Jackie Young (Aces) will also star alongside Chelsea Gray (Aces), Kahleah Copper (Mercury) and Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty).
The USA, led by Duke coach Kara Lawson, will play China, against whom it has an 8-0 all-time record, in the group stage. Team USA will continue the group stage with games on Sept. 6 against Italy, against whom it is tied 1-1 at the World Cup, and on Sept. 7 against the Czech Republic, against whom it holds a 2-0 lead, before the quarterfinals begin on Sept. 8.
France is the other team with a large concentration of WNBA stars, led by Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams. France has eight WNBA players on its roster, including New York Liberty guards Pauline Astier and Marine Johannes, Mercury forward Valeriane Ayayi, Portland Fire goaltender Carla Leite, Seattle Storm center Dominique Malong, Connecticut Sun guard Leila Lacan and Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun.
Other WNBA stars competing in the World Cup include Storm forward Awa Fam (Spain), Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich and Toronto Tempo forward Nyara Sabally (Germany), Wings center Li Yueru and Liberty center Han Xu (China), Tempo guard Julie Allemand (Belgium), Tempo forward Julie Allemand (Belgium), Wings forward Magbe Storm, forward W Ezi, forward W Ezi. (Australia.)
Tempo coach Sandy Brondello will lead the Australian national team, and former Washington Mystics coach Mike Thibault will coach Belgium.
The bronze medal and gold medal games will be played on September 13. The USA defeated China 83-61 in the 2022 gold medal game, while Australia beat Canada 95-65 in the bronze medal game.
Each WNBA team will have four games remaining in the regular season when play resumes on Sept. 17.
Semi-final
Winner 1 vs 8
vs.
Winner 4 vs 5
Winner 3 vs 6
vs.
Winner 2 vs 7
The final
Winner of semi-final 1
vs.
Winner of semi-final 2
First round
Semi-final
Winner 1 vs 8
vs.
Winner 4 vs 5
Semi-final
Winner 2 vs 7
vs.
Winner 3 vs 6
The final
Winner of semi-final 1
vs.
Winner of the 2nd semi-final
First round
Eight spots in the playoffs are solidified, but it will be accompetitive sowing race to close out the regular season.
