FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026: USA Face Hungary in Quarterfinal
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
The United States will begin the knockout stage of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 with a quarterfinal against Hungary on Thursday, September 10.
The USA finished at the top of Group D and will now face a Hungarian team that has reached the quarterfinal stage for the first time in four decades.
Hungary advanced to the last eight after finishing second in Group B and defeating Japan in the qualifying round. The result marks a significant achievement for the Hungarian team as it continues an impressive run at the tournament.
USA Enter Knockout Stage as Favorites
The United States started the tournament strongly with a convincing win over China before facing a much closer contest against Italy.
Italy pushed the defending champions hard, with the USA eventually surviving by just three points. The American team responded with a more comfortable performance against Czechia to secure the top position in its group.
The USA squad combines experienced players with younger stars. Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers are among the players featuring at their first World Cup, while veterans such as Chelsea Gray and Breanna Stewart bring considerable international experience.
The quarterfinal will also have an interesting personal connection for Bueckers, who will face former teammate Dorka Juhász, now representing Hungary.
Key USA Players
Jackie Young has been the USA’s leading scorer during the tournament, averaging 11.3 points per game.
Breanna Stewart has led the team in rebounding with an average of 8.3 rebounds per game, while Caitlin Clark has contributed 6.3 assists per game.
With the competition entering the knockout phase, the USA will have less room for mistakes as every match could determine whether the defending champions continue their title defense.
Hungary Looking to Continue Historic Run
Hungary’s progress to the quarterfinals represents one of the major stories of the tournament.
After finishing second in their group and overcoming Japan in the qualifying round, the Hungarian team now faces its biggest challenge against the United States.
Hungary will need a strong defensive performance and consistent scoring to stay competitive against the tournament favorites.
The winner of the USA-Hungary quarterfinal will advance to the semifinals, where Spain, Italy or Australia could potentially provide the next challenge depending on the remaining results.
The quarterfinal therefore offers Hungary an opportunity to create another memorable moment, while the USA will be determined to maintain its long-standing dominance and continue its pursuit of another World Cup title.
