Team USA Begins Quest for Fifth Straight FIBA Women’s World Cup Title Against China
The standard is perfection now. For Team USA, anything less than gold at the FIBA Women’s World Cup feels like failure, and the chase for a fifth consecutive title starts with a familiar weight on their shoulders and a very modern twist to the roster.
The Americans open Group D play against China on Friday, Sept. 4, in Berlin, the first step in a campaign loaded with expectation, intrigue and a new generation of headline-makers.
A dynasty reloads
This is not a program learning how to win on the world stage. It’s one that has owned it.
Team USA have captured nine of the last 12 FIBA Women’s World Cups, including the last four in a row. The jersey comes with history stitched into every seam, and Kara Lawson steps into this edition with a group built to keep that run alive.
The names tell the story of where the women’s game is headed: Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers. Players who already command massive audiences now get the global spotlight in USA colors, tasked with extending a dynasty rather than simply announcing themselves.
Group D brings a mix of styles and pedigree. China, Friday’s opponent, stand as the immediate threat. Italy and Czechia complete the pool, each capable of punishing any lapse in focus in a short tournament where one bad night can reshape the bracket.
Major absences on both sides
The path, though, is not straightforward.
Team USA arrive in Germany without one of the most dominant players on the planet. Four-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, the MVP of the 2022 World Cup, has been ruled out for health reasons. Kelsey Plum, another proven big-game scorer and playmaker, also misses the tournament for health reasons.
Those are not minor tweaks. Wilson is the anchor around which both offense and defense typically orbit. Plum brings edge, pace and a fearlessness that has become a hallmark of recent American teams. Lawson’s job now includes rebalancing rotations and responsibilities on the fly.
China face their own upheaval, and in the most frustrating way imaginable. Dallas Wings center Li Yueru, a two-time Olympian and a key figure in China’s silver-medal run at the 2022 World Cup, will not play in Berlin after her passport was lost in the mail, preventing her from traveling.
For a team that leans on structure, size and discipline, losing a centerpiece like Yueru changes the equation. It strips China of a proven interior presence against the deepest frontcourt in the tournament and forces a tactical rethink just days before tipoff.
The opener, then, becomes a test of adaptability as much as talent.
Tipoff, TV and where this all begins
The World Cup journey starts early for fans in the United States.
- Matchup: USA vs. China
- Date: Friday, Sept. 4
- Time: 8:15 a.m. ET (5:15 a.m. PT)
- Venue: Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin
TNT holds exclusive U.S. English-language rights to the tournament. All 36 games stream on HBO Max, with 17 contests airing on TNT and truTV, including every Team USA game.
For the opener, USA vs. China will be shown on TNT, truTV and HBO Max starting at 8 a.m. ET.
The road through Group D
The World Cup format leaves little room for missteps. Every possession in the group stage can ripple into the knockout rounds.
Team USA’s Group D schedule:
- Friday, Sept. 4: USA vs. China | TNT, truTV, HBO Max (8 a.m. ET)
- Sunday, Sept. 6: USA vs. Italy | TNT, HBO Max (2:30 p.m. ET)
- Monday, Sept. 7: USA vs. Czechia | TNT, HBO Max (2:30 p.m. ET)
Win the group and the reward is clear: an automatic ticket to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Sept. 10, airing on TNT and truTV.
Finish second or third, and the road gets steeper. Those teams drop into the Playoff Qualification Round on Tuesday, Sept. 8 (truTV), a one-game fight to claim one of the final four quarterfinal berths. One off night, and the dream ends before the medals even come into view.
From there, the stakes only rise. The semifinals are set for Saturday, Sept. 12 (TBS, truTV), with the third-place game and the final closing the tournament on Sunday, Sept. 13 (TNT, truTV).
The calendar is unforgiving. Three group games in four days, potential qualification pressure immediately after, then a sprint through the knockout rounds. Depth, chemistry and composure will matter as much as star power.
Team USA arrive as favorites again. They always do. But with Wilson and Plum watching from afar, China reshaping its plans without Yueru, and a new generation of American talent stepping into a legacy they didn’t build but are expected to maintain, one question hangs over Berlin:
Can this version of the juggernaut keep the gold run alive?
