France surge to No. 2 as D'Tigress stay steady in latest FIBA rankings

Posted : 22 March 2026

A major shake-up at the top of the FIBA Women's World Ranking has seen France climb to second place, while Nigeria's D'Tigress continue to hold firm in eighth position globally.

France emerged as the standout performers following an exceptional run in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, recording a perfect five wins in Lyon-Villeurbanne. Their dominant displays propelled them past Australia into second, reinforcing their growing status as a global powerhouse.

Despite mixed fortunes during the qualifiers, D'Tigress maintained their place among the world's elite. The African champions secured two wins against Colombia and the Philippines but fell short against South Korea, France, and Germany. However, their earlier triumph at the FIBA Women's AfroBasket 2025 had already guaranteed their place at the World Cup.

Nigeria's continental dominance remains unquestioned after clinching a fifth consecutive AfroBasket title with a convincing 78–64 victory over Mali in Abidjan, marking their seventh overall crown.

At the summit, the United States extended their reign as the world's top-ranked team following an unbeaten campaign in San Juan, further underlining their superiority on the global stage.

Elsewhere, Belgium closed in on the top five after an impressive showing in Wuhan, while China held onto fourth place. Japan also made a notable return to the top 10, rising from 11th after securing key wins over Canada and Argentina to book their World Cup ticket.

Host nation Germany edged closer to the top 10, moving up to 11th after a strong qualifying performance that included a victory over Nigeria.

Further down the rankings, Senegal and Argentina posted significant gains to emerge as the biggest movers in their respective regions. The Philippines celebrated a historic milestone with their first-ever global win, jumping nine places, while South Sudan broke into the top 50 for the first time.

Attention now shifts to the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, scheduled to take place from September 4 to 13 at the Max-Schmeling-Halle in Berlin, Germany.

The updated rankings will play a crucial role in determining seedings for the World Cup draw on April 21, setting the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested global showdown.

Top 10 Rankings: United States, France, Australia, China, Belgium, Spain, Canada, Nigeria, Brazil, Japan.

France surge to No. 2 as D'Tigress stay steady in latest FIBA rankings

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