Injuries, losses test Germany ahead of Women’s Basketball World Cup in Berlin

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Germany’s women’s basketball team is beginning the World Cup on home soil amid injuries to key players and three warmup losses, but remains optimistic about advancing past the group stage. The tournament’s strong ticket sales and growing fan interest underscore a rising profile for women’s basketball in Germany, with the team aiming to leverage returning stars and a favorable format to progress.

Germany faces a challenging start to the Women’s Basketball World Cup as host nation amid injuries and a series of warmup losses, but team officials remain cautiously optimistic about their prospects. The tournament, which began this week in Berlin, marks Germany’s second appearance at the event, the first being the 1998 edition also held on home soil.

Germany’s preparations have been hindered by the absence of several key players due to injury. Star forward Satou Sabally, who plays for the New York Liberty, is sidelined with a concussion sustained earlier this year, and her status for the tournament remains uncertain. Additionally, Nyara Sabally, Satou’s younger sister and a member of the Toronto Tempo, is recovering from a calf injury but is expected to participate after recent medical evaluations. Leonie Fiebich, another New York Liberty player, recently returned from a foot injury and was not part of the warmup games.

The team’s recent friendly matches have seen Germany drop three consecutive games against Spain, Hungary, and Turkey, including a close 63-62 loss to Turkey in Cologne. Despite these setbacks, team captain Marie Gülich has returned to competition after a significant knee injury and is expected to contribute throughout the tournament. Germany’s coach Olaf Lange acknowledged the challenges but expressed confidence that the arrival of their WNBA players will strengthen the squad considerably.

Germany opens the group stage on Friday against Spain at the 14,000-seat Berlin Arena—temporarily renamed to avoid sponsor-related naming rights—followed by a match against Japan at the 9,000-capacity Max-Schmeling-Halle on Saturday. The team will conclude Group A play with a matchup against Mali on September 7, a game considered vital for advancing. Germany has yet to record a competitive victory over Spain in seven previous meetings, including a 79-60 loss at the EuroBasket tournament last year.

The format of the expanded 16-team World Cup advances group winners directly to the quarterfinals, while second- and third-place teams enter a playoff round. Only the bottom team in each group will be eliminated after the first stage, keeping Germany’s hopes alive despite a rough start.

Tournament organizers have reported strong ticket sales, with over 200,000 tickets bought prior to the start—surpassing previous editions—and a sold-out final scheduled for September 13. German Basketball Federation president Ingo Weiss highlighted the growing enthusiasm for women’s basketball, describing the event as a significant milestone in the sport’s development in Germany.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.