Spain Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Roster: Official Final Squad Announced by FEB

The announcement follows a month-long preparation period that included the “Volvemos a Soñar” tour matches against Germany, Nigeria, Belgium, Mali, and China, where the national team secured five victories. Méndez finalized his selection ahead of the tournament, which runs from September 4 to September 13.

The Final 12 Roster and Selection Breakdown

The squad features eight players who earned silver medals at the European Championship last summer. They are joined by María Conde, Maite Cazorla, Megan DiLeo, and Alicia Flórez, the latter of whom will make her official competition debut for the senior national team.

The complete 12-player roster announced by Méndez comprises Elena Buenavida, Raquel Carrera, Maite Cazorla, María Conde, Awa Fam, Alicia Flórez, Paula Ginzo, Megan DiLeo, Iyana Martín, Mariona Ortiz, Helena Pueyo, and team captain Alba Torrens.

Torrens stands out as the lone player on the roster with previous World Cup experience, carrying a record of three prior tournament appearances and three medals. The remaining eleven players will feature in a global championship for the first time. Meanwhile, the final cuts from the preparation camp included Andrea Vilaró, Irati Etxarri, María Araújo, Aina Ayuso, Lola Pendande, Nerea Hermosa, and Marta García.

Group Stage Schedule and Broadcast Details

Spain returns to the FIBA World Cup stage after an eight-year absence, targeting the fourth medal in the history of the women’s program. Group play begins immediately upon the tournament’s opening in Germany.

The national team opens Group play against the host nation, Germany, on Friday, September 4, at 17:45 local time. The following day, Spain faces Mali on Saturday, September 5, at 11:30, before concluding the preliminary group schedule against Japan on Monday, September 7, at 17:50.

Fans following the tournament from television can watch coverage through Teledeporte, which will air one game per day while prioritizing Spain’s fixtures. Additionally, Movistar Plus+ provides expanded coverage with two matches daily alongside the complete tournament schedule available via its sports package, while Courtside carries the entire event live on its digital platform.

Tournament Format and Knockout Path

The 16 teams participating in the World Cup are divided into four groups of four. Only the top-finishing team in each group advances directly to the quarterfinals. Second- and third-place finishers will compete in an “octavos de final” knockout round on September 8 and September 9 to determine the remaining quarterfinalists.

Quarterfinal matches take place on September 10, followed by the semifinals on September 12, and the championship and bronze-medal games on September 13.

Spain’s potential tournament path depends on its preliminary group finish. A first-place finish in Group C sends the team directly to the quarterfinals against the winner of a cross-match between the second-place team of Group C and the third-place team of Group D. Finishing second or third in the group requires navigating the qualification round against opponents from Group B, which includes France, Nigeria, Hungary, and South Korea.