France and Korea Shine in FIBA Women's World Cup Qualifiers

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Highlights from FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

In the recent FIBA Women's World Cup 2026 qualifying tournaments, the action was intense across various locations. In France, the host team faced Germany in Lyon Vierbad. Although France had already secured a spot earlier in the day, they played impressively, ultimately defeating Germany 85-63. Janelle Salon was particularly outstanding with 18 points, shooting a perfect 7 out of 7 from the field. Gabby Williams and Alexis Peterson also contributed significantly to their teams with 14 and 13 points respectively.

Korea secured its place in the World Cup with a standout performance against the Philippines, winning 105-74. Kung Lee Seul was in exceptional form, setting a women's World Cup qualifying record by hitting eight three-pointers, finishing the game with 24 points. This victory, combined with earlier wins over Nigeria and Colombia, helped Korea clinch a spot in Berlin.

Meanwhile, Japan faced a challenging scenario in Istanbul, battling it out with host Turkey. Kennedy Burke played a significant role for Turkey, scoring 25 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, leading to a close 75-67 victory over Japan. Despite Mai Yamamoto's impressive 18 point performance, including four three-pointers, Japan could not overcome Turkey's late-game execution.

The tournaments proved critical for several teams. Germany took second place after a win over Nigeria, while the Philippines and Turkey also performed well, securing crucial victories. The finale in Istanbul was particularly dramatic, with Hungary clinching second after defeating Turkey, yet both teams advanced to the World Cup alongside Japan in a tightly contested group.

These qualifiers showcased some exceptional basketball, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting FIBA Women's World Cup in Berlin.