Women’s basketball continues to gain ground globally, and FIBA has taken decisive steps to consolidate its growth. Last week, FIBA’s Central Council met at the Patrick Baumann Basketball House, its headquarters in Switzerland, to discuss the achievements of 2024 and chart the way forward.
Among the highlights of the meeting were the Olympic Qualification Tournaments and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games basketball competitions, which broke records for attendance and digital engagement. More than 1,078,000 fans filled the stands in Lille and Paris, marking a historic milestone for Olympic basketball.
NEW FORMAT FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Central Council approved two key changes to the format of women’s competitions. For the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, the qualifying tournaments will feature four groups of six teams each, which will compete under a round-robin system for 11 days. This change seeks to increase the competitiveness and visibility of national teams.
On the other hand, the FIBA 2026 Pre-Olympic Tournament will have eight teams divided into two groups of four. The winners will advance to the 2028 Olympic Qualification Tournaments, optimizing the selection process for the Los Angeles Games.
GROWTH IN GLOBAL PARTICIPATION
FIBA also highlighted the success of the qualifying windows for the 2025 Continental Cups. Events such as EuroBasket, AfroBasket and Asia Cup are generating unprecedented interest, attracting massive audiences around the world. This momentum reinforces FIBA’s commitment to the equitable development of men’s and women’s basketball.
In terms of bidding processes, it was confirmed that the next Women’s Basketball World Cup will begin its selection process in July 2025. This open approach aims to ensure the best possible organization for these events.
THE IMPACT OF 3X3 COMPETITIONS
3×3 basketball also had an extraordinary year, with record levels of engagement in the Women’s 2024 Series. The finals in Hangzhou, China, cemented 3×3’s place as a key modality for the future of basketball. In addition, the 3×3 World Tour brought exciting games to 17 iconic locations, culminating in a thrilling denouement in Hong Kong.
These developments reflect the potential of basketball as a universal sport and highlight the importance of FIBA’s initiatives to promote inclusion and diversity in the sport.
FUTURE OF WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Looking ahead to 2026, FIBA continues to develop its plans for the Women’s Basketball World Cup. Pre-qualifying tournaments held in Mexico and Rwanda in August 2024 have already laid the groundwork for an unforgettable edition.
Meanwhile, the international basketball migration report underscores the need to analyze the impact of new NCAA regulations on young players and clubs. This approach seeks to strengthen the integration of talent in international competitions.
Women’s basketball is booming, and the decisions taken at this FIBA Central Council meeting promise to keep the momentum going and secure the future for the sport.
