ISTANBUL, Turkey – The Turkish Women’s National Basketball Team held a media day at the Basketball Development Center on Friday, ahead of the FIBA 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers, which will take place in Istanbul from March 11-17. The team is eager to compete on home court as they pursue a spot in the prestigious tournament.
The media event featured remarks from Türkiye Basketbol Federasyonu (TBF) Board Member Bahar Çağlar Ökten, Women’s National Team General Manager Aslı İnceer, Head Coach Andrea Mazzon, and team captain Olcay Çakır Turgut. The atmosphere was one of optimism and determination as the team prepares for a challenging group stage.
A Challenging Path to the World Cup
The Turkish team finds itself in Group C alongside formidable opponents: Canada, Argentina, Australia, Japan, and Hungary. Ökten emphasized the difficulty of the group but reaffirmed the team’s ambition. “We have a tough group, but we set our goal from the beginning,” she stated. “We’ve had a goal of participating in the World Cup since the European Championship. We want to pass this qualifying group and participate in the World Cup. We need to move forward with strong steps. The team’s energy is good, and we have full confidence that our players will do their best. We want to use the home-court advantage with the best possible fan support, and we invite all our people.”
The team’s preparation will be crucial, especially given the short timeframe before the tournament begins. Mazzon acknowledged the limited preparation time, stating they will have only three practices before their opening game against Canada. “We will face highly high-level opponents,” Mazzon explained. “Japan has a certain style of play. The other teams also have high-level physical performance. There is a challenge ahead, that is true. We will be able to have three practices before the opening match. No one is a magician. After three practices, we will do our best. We need to play very intelligently. This is a really smart country. The players and the people are smart. When you position those two together, I think we will succeed.”
Home Advantage and Team Spirit
İnceer highlighted the motivational boost of playing in Istanbul. “As a national team, we had a good European Championship and earned the right to play in the World Cup Qualifiers. Now we are hosting this tournament. We are aware of how difficult our group is in terms of the schedule. But we are also aware of our own capacity. Playing at home, in front of our fans, will be a separate motivation and strength for us. We want to prepare for each match with discipline and participate in the World Cup.”
Captain Çakır Turgut echoed this sentiment, expressing the team’s excitement and dedication. “We are very excited. We have been wanting to represent our country better for a long time, to be in organizations like the Olympics and the World Cup. Everyone is very positive, and we will do our best. In the World Cup Qualifiers, the difference will be against basketball styles. We are a squad of 19 players. Our coach is trying to prepare accordingly with our squad. We will try to adapt to all kinds of games. We will do our best. We want to show all our performance.”
Coach Mazzon Embraces the Challenge
Andrea Mazzon, the team’s head coach, expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to lead the Turkish national team. He noted the intelligence of both the players and the Turkish people, believing that a combination of the two will lead to success. Mazzon also emphasized that the team has no injuries and that selecting the final 12-player roster was a difficult process, based on finding players who fit a specific style of play. He acknowledged the immense goal of qualifying for the World Cup, stating they will grant their all to achieve it.
“Every coach and every player has a dream,” Mazzon said. “Going to the World Cup is a big goal. Guarantee if we will succeed, but we will do our best. First of all, being here is a privilege for me. I was received very positively. I feel at home. This is a wonderful feeling. I coached the national team in Italy, but I have a greater responsibility here. Being received so positively, it is an extra motivation for me to reciprocate to everyone who has supported me.”
Tournament Schedule
The Turkish team’s schedule for the FIBA 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament is as follows (all times local, with UTC equivalent):
- March 11, Wednesday: 20:30 – Canada vs. Turkey (UTC +3)
- March 12, Thursday: 20:30 – Turkey vs. Argentina (UTC +3)
- March 14, Saturday: 20:30 – Japan vs. Turkey (UTC +3)
- March 15, Sunday: 20:30 – Turkey vs. Australia (UTC +3)
- March 17, Tuesday: 20:30 – Turkey vs. Hungary (UTC +3)
The team is hoping that strong home support will propel them through a difficult group and towards their goal of reaching the FIBA 2026 Women’s World Cup. The tournament represents a significant opportunity for Turkish basketball to showcase its talent on the international stage.
The upcoming matches will be a true test of the team’s resilience and skill. Fans are encouraged to attend the games at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center and show their support for the A Milli Kadın Basketbol Takımı.
Next up for the Turkish team is their opening match against Canada on Wednesday, March 11th. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the FIBA 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers.
