The 2degrees Tall Ferns are about to embark on the next part of their #RoadtoBerlin. With a stacked couple of days of action in the offing, we’ve done you a solid and put together a quick guide on all five of our opponents at this year’s 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in San Juan!
NEW ZEALAND:
Tayla Dalton, Tegan Graham, Pahlyss Hokianga, Jade Kirisome, Rebecca Pizzey, Sharne Robati, Briarley Rogers, Emma Rogers, Emme Shearer, Ashlee Strawbridge, Ella Tofaeono, Charlotte Whittaker
WORLD RANKING – 21 (5th in Asia)
PREVIOUS WORLD CUP APPEARANCES – 1994 World Championships (Australia), 1W 7L
ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR – Ahhh… all of them? Duh!
Game One: New Zealand v Spain, Thursday March 12, 7:00am (NZT)
Wisconsin-born Spanish center, Megan Gustafson, is one to watch out for on March 12th when the Tall Ferns take on Spain.
SPAIN:
Aina Ayuso, Maria Araujo, Elena Buenavida, Raquel Carrera, Maite Cazorla, Maria Conde, Awa Fam, Paula Ginzo, Megan Gustafson, Iyana Martin, Mariona Ortiz, Helena Pueyo
POPULATION: approx. 49.5 million
CAPITAL CITY: Madrid
WORLD RANKING – 6 (3rd in Europe)
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD – 1W, 5L
ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR – Spain’s team for the qualifiers features three players who’ve had WNBA experience, but none shine brighter than Las Vegas Aces center, Megan Gustafson. The WNBA champion made her debut for the Spanish national team during the 2024 Paris Olympics where she averaged a 18 points and 9.3 rebounds per contest. Also, keep an eye out for rising stars Awa Fam and Iyana Martin.
PREVIOUS MATCH-UPS
1994 – World Champs (L 54-117, Tania Tupu 13p)
2004 – Athens Olympics (L 57-91, Angela Marino 21p)
2008 – Test (L 58-77)
2008 – Beijing Olympics (L 62-85, Jillian Harmon 22p)
2016 – Test (W 54-52, Jillian Harmon 14p)
2016 – Test (L 60-80)
Game Two: New Zealand v Italy, Friday March 13, 10:00am (NZT)
Italy’s Cecilia Zandalasini averaged close to 17 points per game at 2025’s FIBA Women’s Eurobasket, notching up three 20+ point performances during the tournament.
ITALY:
Olbis Andre, Lorela Cubaj, Martina Fassina, Martina Kacerik, Jasmine Keys, Sara Madera, Cristina Osazuwa, Francesca Pan, Francesca Pasa, Mariella Santucci, Laura Spreafico, Costanza Verona, Cecilia Zandalasini, Carlotta Zanardi
POPULATION: approx. 58.9 million
CAPITAL CITY: Rome
WORLD RANKING – 14 (6th in Europe)
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD – 0W, 2L
ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR – Italy’s WNBA superstar, Cecilia Zandalasini is fresh off a career best year for the Golden State Valkyries where she averaged 10.5 points and a tick under 3 rebounds a game. The Italian wing also played 72 games with the Minnesota Lynx, including being a member of their 2017 WNBA Championship winning team.
PREVIOUS MATCH-UPS
1994 – World Champs (L 49-84, Gina Farmer 14p)
1998 – Test (L 57-71)
Game Three: New Zealand v Senegal, Sunday March 15, 7:00am (NZT)
Yacine Diop is the only surviving member of Senegal’s 2018 World Cup team that finished 12th.
SENEGAL:
Marie Diame, Mathilde Aicha Diop, Yacine Diop, Mame Khoudia Fall, Khadija Faye, Sabou Ndiaye Gueye, Ndioma Kane, Aminata Ly, Nene Awa Ndiaye, Sokhna Ndiaye, Fatou Pouye, Victorine Thiaw, Lena Timera
POPULATION: approx. 18.8 million
CAPITAL CITY: Dakar
WORLD RANKING – 25 (3rd in Africa)
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD – 1W, 3L
ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR – Unfortunately for Senegal, they’ll be without star guard Cierra Dillard for this tournament, but veteran forward Yacine Diop will look to shoulder some of the load left in her absence. Diop averaged 9 points and 5 reobunds for Senegal during last year’s FIBA Afrobasket, while Ndioma Kane, Sokhna Ndiaye & Nene Awa Ndiaye all averaged over 8 points a game in the same tournament.
PREVIOUS MATCH-UPS
1998 – Test (L 53-69)
1998 – Test (L 54-68)
1998 – Test (L 59-64)
2000 – Sydney Olympics (W 73-70, Tania Tupu 17p)
Game Four: New Zealand v United States, Monday March 16, 7:00am (NZT)
Although making her women’s national team debut, Caitlin Clark is no stranger to winning in the red, white and blue. The 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup MVP boasts two FIBA U19 World Cup golds to her name.
UNITED STATES:
Monique Billings, Paige Bueckers, Rae Burrell, Caitlin Clark, Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Dearica Hamby, Rhyne Howard, Kiki Iriafen, Kelsey Plum, Angel Reese, Jackie Young
POPULATION: approx. 341.7 million
CAPITAL CITY: Washington D.C.
WORLD RANKING – 1 (1st in America’s)
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD – 0W, 8L
ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR – You could pick any of the 12 players on this USA roster, but most notably the two former WNBA number one draft picks, Caitlin Clark (2024) and Paige Bueckers (2025) will definitely be highlight reel material. We’ve seen it in the NCAA and the WNBA, with both having standout college careers and translating that into success at the highest level, also winning their respective Rookie of the Year titles. It’s no question this team will make for outstanding viewing throughout the entire tournament!
PREVIOUS MATCH-UPS
1980 – Test (L 40-54)
1981 – Test (L 50-81)
1992 – Test (L 46-74)
1994 – World Championships (L 47-97, Sonia Akkerman 12p)
2000 – Sydney Olympics (L 42-93, Gina Farmer 9p)
2004 – Athens Olympics (L 47-99, Angela Marino 13p)
2008 – Test (L 60-98)
2008 – Beijing Olympics (L 60-96, Angela Marino 17p)
Game Five: New Zealand v Puerto Rico, Wednesday March 18, 1:00pm (NZT)
Arella Guirantes will look to lead Puerto Rico at this year’s Qualifying Tournament in the absence of Mya Hollingshed, who lead the Puerto Ricans to their first quarter-final appearance at a World Cup back in 2022.
PUERTO RICO:
Jackie Benitez, Nina de Leon, Zaida Gonzalez, Arella Guirantes, Brianna Jones, Imani McGee-Stafford, Tayra Melendez, India Pagan, Sofia Roma, Pamela Rosado, Trinity San Antonio, Kaelynn Satterfield
POPULATION: approx. 3.2 million
CAPITAL CITY: San Juan
WORLD RANKING – 13 (3rd in America’s)
HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD – 0W, 1L
ONE TO WATCH OUT FOR – There are seven players on this Puerto Rican roster from that infamous 2024 match-up. But one who wasn’t there is Imani McGee-Stafford. Yes, McGee… as in the half-sister of NBA champion, and current Illawarra Hawk, Javale McGee. She’s notched up 121 games in the WNBA, as well as stops in multiple overseas destinations including Australia, China, Israel and Turkey. Along with Puerto Rico’s other notable WNBA talent, Arella Guirantes (13p, 7r, 8a v NZL in 2024) they will no doubt provide a big one-two punch for the home side come March 18th.
PREVIOUS MATCH-UPS
2024 – Olympic Qualifying Tournament (L 67-69, Stella Beck 21p)
All of the 2degrees Tall Ferns games during the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament are live on ESPN via Sky Sport (channel 60 & 61) and Disney+.
