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This article was automatically translated from the original Turkish version.
Türkiye Kadın Millî Basketbol Takımı maç programı (AA)
The Türkiye Women’s National Basketball Team is participating in qualification tournaments to secure a spot in the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup, organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Berlin, Germany, from 4 to 13 September 2026. The global qualification tournaments will be held between 11 and 17 March 2026, with Türkiye hosting one of the groups.
In accordance with a decision made by the FIBA Central Board in 2022, the number of teams competing in the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup has been increased to sixteen. A total of twenty-four teams have been included in the qualification phase. The qualification tournaments are being held in Wuhan, China (Group A); San Juan, Puerto Rico (Group B); Villeurbanne, France (Group D); and Istanbul, Türkiye (Group C).
FIBA 2026 World Cup Pathway (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)
Türkiye has been placed in Group C alongside Canada, Hungary, Argentina, Australia and Japan.
According to the qualification rules, the top three teams from Groups A, B and C will earn a place in the World Cup. However, since Australia, the Asian champion and a participant in Group C, already holds direct qualification rights, the other three best-placed teams in Group C, excluding Australia, will secure tournament berths.
Germany, Belgium, Nigeria, the United States and Australia, who qualified directly for the tournament, are also participating in the qualification rounds as per procedure. Additionally, Hungary and the Czech Republic earned their spots in this phase by finishing first in the preliminary qualification tournaments held in Rwanda and Mexico in August 2024.
Italian coach Andrea Mazzon is serving as head coach of the national team. The squad announced by the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) includes team captain Olcay Çakır Turgut, Alperi Onar, Sevgi Uzun, Sinem Ataş, Derin Erdoğan, Ayşe Cora Yamaner, Elif Bayram, Zeynep Şevval Gül, Melek Uzunoğlu, Esra Ural Topuz and naturalized player Kennedy (Beren) Burke. Head coach Mazzon stated that the twelve players selected were chosen based on their compatibility with the team’s playing style rather than individual strengths.
National Team Coaching Staff and Roster (TBF)
The team’s preparation period before the qualification matches has been extremely tight, with Mazzon noting that the squad will have only three training sessions before their opening game. The Italian coach stated that they cannot expect a miraculous outcome due to the limited time but will strive to give their best on the court with a rational game plan. Mazzon emphasized that Turkish players and fans are intelligent, and this dynamic provides a competitive advantage. He stressed the need for strategic basketball against teams like Japan with distinct styles and physically dominant opponents. Mazzon also highlighted that the positive reception he has received in Türkiye has provided him with additional motivation.
Turkcell Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi'nde Düzenlenen Medya Günü (<\/em>TBF<\/kure-link>)<\/em>" image-element-format="right" image-height="551" image-source="https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/03/10/T6rm8RKfTqi5ewYKiTAHcyWpFPohXg1F.png" image-width="878">
Team captain Olcay Çakır Turgut expressed her long-standing desire to compete in major tournaments such as the World Cup and the Olympics and noted that team morale is extremely high. Turgut stated that the team will face opponents with diverse playing styles and that the nineteen-player extended roster has been prepared to adapt to any system. She added that newly naturalized player Kennedy (Beren) Burke, with her high energy and enthusiastic attitude, will easily integrate into the national team’s fast-paced basketball philosophy.
Sevgi Uzun, the 28-year-old player standing 1.70 meters tall, elaborated on the profound meaning of wearing the national jersey for an athlete. Uzun stated that the national uniform holds a significance beyond any club career and possesses an irreplaceable and unique power.
Emphasizing that the goal is not individual achievement but showcasing Türkiye’s strength in basketball on the international stage and proving competitiveness against global teams, Uzun stated that these objectives can only be achieved collectively as a team. She noted that the experience gained at the previous European Championship has boosted the team’s self-confidence and expressed that wearing the national jersey at the World Cup and the Olympics remains her greatest dream. Uzun underscored the importance of fan support and expressed her belief that the atmosphere in Istanbul will elevate the team’s performance. Additionally, she welcomed FIBA’s efforts to promote and develop women’s basketball worldwide and expressed hope that such initiatives will continue to expand.
Turkish Basketball Federation Board Member Bahar Çağlar Ökten stated that since the European Championship, the team’s primary objective has been to qualify for the World Cup and affirmed full confidence in the team’s energy despite the challenging opponents in their group. General Manager Aslı İnceer emphasized that although the fixture is demanding, the team remains unwavering in its goal to reach the World Cup. Administrative officials and players alike highlighted the critical role of home advantage and fan support during the matches in Istanbul.
Türkiye will open Group C play against Canada at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul. The match, scheduled for 20:30 on 11 March 2026, will mark the first official meeting between the two teams since their last encounter at the 2014 World Championship hosted by Türkiye. In that group stage game held in Ankara, Türkiye defeated Canada 55–44 and finished fourth in the tournament, their best result in their debut appearance at the prestigious event. On the same day, other Group C matches will feature Argentina versus Australia at 14:30 and Japan versus Hungary at 17:30.
The Türkiye Women’s National Basketball Team and the Canada Women’s National Basketball Team faced each other on 11 March 2026 in the opening match of Group C of the FIBA 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. The game, held at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul, ended with a 71-69 victory for Türkiye. This match is officially recorded as part of the qualification tournaments organized to determine the teams that will earn a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
The World Cup qualification tournaments were hosted in Wuhan, China (Group A); San Juan, Puerto Rico (Group B); Istanbul, Türkiye (Group C); and Villeurbanne, France (Group D). Group C, hosted by Türkiye, included the national teams of Türkiye, Canada, Hungary, Argentina, Australia, and Japan. According to tournament rules, the top three teams in Group C, excluding Australia—the Asian continental champion—will qualify for the World Cup. Meanwhile, Belgium (Europe), Australia (Asia), Nigeria (Africa), and the United States (Americas) earned direct qualification due to their status as continental champions.
The 12-player roster of the Türkiye Women’s National Basketball Team, under head coach Andrea Mazzon, included Ayşe Cora Yamaner, Beren Burke, Derin Erdoğan, Elif Bayram, Esra Ural Topuz, Gökşen Fitik, Melek Uzunoğlu, Olcay Çakır Turgut, Sevgi Uzun, Sinem Ataş, Şerife Alperi Onar, and Zeynep Şevval Gül. Prior to this match, the two national teams last met in an official competition during the 2014 World Championship, hosted by Türkiye. In that group stage game held in Ankara, Türkiye won 55-44 and finished the tournament in fourth place.
FIBA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Türkiye-Canada match (AA)
The match, broadcast live by TRT Spor Yıldız, was attended in the arena by Harun Erdenay, Acting President of the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF), members of the TBF Board of Directors, and former Utah Jazz NBA player Andrey Kirilenko. Türkiye started the game with a starting lineup of Olcay Çakır Turgut, Sevgi Uzun, Gökşen Fitik, Beren Burke, and Esra Ural Topuz.
In the first 1 minute and 12 seconds of the game, Türkiye scored a 7-0 run. By the 6th minute, points from Beren Burke, Gökşen Fitik, and Alperi Onar extended the lead to 16-5, pushing the margin into double digits. The first quarter ended with Türkiye leading 21-8. In the second quarter, Olcay Çakır Turgut’s performance stood out, and Türkiye entered halftime with a 39-24 advantage.
Starting at the 25th minute of the third quarter, Canada began to assert itself on the court, with points from Carleton and Edwards. The lead, which had reached 19 points at the start of the quarter, narrowed to just six points (51-45) with 44 seconds remaining in the period. The third quarter concluded with Türkiye leading 53-47. In the fourth quarter, Canada continued to close the gap, led by Carleton’s scoring. At the 37th minute, Pellington’s basket gave Canada its first lead of the game, 64-63. In the final moments, Türkiye regained the lead with a basket by Olcay Çakır Turgut and secured the 71-69 victory.
FIBA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Türkiye-Canada match (AA)
In individual statistics, Olcay Çakır Turgut led Türkiye with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. For Canada, Bridget Carleton delivered a standout performance with 24 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.
On the same day as the Türkiye-Canada match, other Group C games saw Australia defeat Argentina 91-65, and Hungary beat Japan 77-65. Following these results, Türkiye’s next match in the group is scheduled against Argentina, while Canada will face Hungary.
The Türkiye Women’s National Basketball Team and the Argentina Women’s Basketball Team faced each other on 12 March 2026 in the second match of Group C of the FIBA 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. The game, held at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul and broadcast live on TRT Spor Yıldız, was won by Argentina with a score of 59-55. As a result, Türkiye suffered its first loss in the group while Argentina secured its first victory in the qualifiers.
The match was part of the qualification tournament organized to determine the teams that will compete in the World Cup, to be held in 2026 in Berlin, Germany, at the Berlin Arena and Max Schmeling Sports Hall. The qualifiers are being played in four groups hosted by China, Puerto Rico, France and Türkiye. Türkiye is in Group C, hosted in Istanbul, alongside Australia, Canada, Japan, Argentina and Hungary.
The game was officiated by the referee trio of Petar Pesic (Serbia), Yevgeniy Mikheyev (Kazakhstan) and Larissa Sales (Brazil). Türkiye Basketball Federation (TBF) Acting President Harun Erdenay and TBF Board Members observed the match from the stands. Türkiye started the game with Olcay Çakır Turgut, Sevgi Uzun, Gökşen Fitik, Beren Burke and Esra Ural Topuz as their starting five.
In the first quarter, Türkiye restricted Argentina’s effectiveness near the basket through efficient ball movement and scored primarily through its taller players. The first period ended in a 12-12 tie.
The first two minutes of the second quarter saw neither team score. Following this, the Turkish national team found success with three-point shots and extended their lead to 28-18 in the 18th minute, entering halftime with a 30-24 advantage.
FIBA 2026 Women’s World Cup Qualifiers Group C Second Match Türkiye-Arjantin (AA)
Argentina began the third quarter more effectively and tied the game at 33-33 in the 23rd minute. Türkiye regained momentum with three-pointers from Sevgi Uzun and Beren Burke, leading 44-38 by the 27th minute and entering the final quarter with a 50-44 advantage.
In the fourth quarter, Türkiye struggled to score offensively, while Argentina tied the game again at 52-52 in the 37th minute. Türkiye entered the final minute leading 55-54, but Argentina’s player Burani tied the score once more with a free throw with 32 seconds remaining (55-55). Türkiye failed to score on their final offensive possessions, while Argentina sealed the win with two perfect free throws by Mungo and Gretter, winning 59-55. Türkiye managed only five points in the entire fourth quarter.
Beren Burke led Türkiye with 14 points, followed by Sevgi Uzun with 12 points and Ayşe Cora Yamaner with 11 points. Gökşen Fitik scored 5 points, Olcay Çakır Turgut scored 4, Derin Erdoğan scored 3, and Esra Ural Topuz, Alperi Onar and Elif Bayram each scored 2 points. National player Olcay Çakır Turgut fouled out in the 39th minute and 50 seconds after committing her fifth foul.
For Argentina, Melisa Gretter was the top performer with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Burani contributed 12 points, Cabrera 9 points, and Mungo and Siciliano each added 8 points to secure the victory.
Head Coach of the Women’s National Team Andrea Mazzon (AA)
Following the match, Türkiye Head Coach Andrea Mazzon stated that her team played well until the final quarter but found it difficult to recover from the late deficit. She also noted that the team was unable to replicate the on-court organization shown in their game against Canada and emphasized that they would learn the necessary lessons from this loss.
National player Gökşen Fitik highlighted that the tournament is a long marathon and that the team’s goal of qualifying for the World Cup remains unchanged.
Argentina Head Coach Gregorio Martinez said the match was played at a high level of difficulty and expressed pride in his team’s effort. He emphasized that Argentina played with a strong desire to win and credited Julieta Mungo’s performance as decisive in securing the victory. Argentine player Melisa Gretter described Türkiye as a strong defensive opponent and noted that her team fought hard for forty minutes to earn the win.
Türkiye’s Women’s National Basketball Team will play their third qualifier match on Saturday, 14 March at 20:30, again at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center, against Japan. Meanwhile, Argentina will face Canada in the same round.
Türkiye has previously competed in two FIBA Women’s World Cup finals. In 2014, when the country hosted the tournament, it achieved fourth place. In 2018, the team finished in tenth place. Türkiye failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
At the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul, Türkiye defeated their opponent with a score of 75-67, securing their second win in the tournament.
The qualification tournaments to determine the 11 teams that will participate in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 were organized in Wuhan, China; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Villeurbanne, France; and Istanbul, Türkiye. In Group C, hosted by Istanbul, the teams included Türkiye, Japan, Hungary, Australia, Canada, and Argentina. According to the tournament format, the top three teams in each group would qualify directly for the World Cup.
This match marked the 10th meeting between the Türkiye and Japan women’s national basketball teams. Their first encounter took place on 23 July 2004 during a preparatory tournament in Spain, where Japan won 90-80. Türkiye recorded their first victory against Japan on 26 June 2012 in Ankara during the London Olympic Qualifiers, winning 65-49. Their most recent meeting prior to this match was a preparatory game held in Japan on 19 June 2022.
A Milli Kadın Basketbol Takımı-FIBA 2026 Dünya Kupası Elemeleri Türkiye-Japonya maçı (AA)
The game was officiated by the referee trio of Julio Anaya (Panama), Kyoungjin Park (South Korea), and Nicolas Zivieri (Brazil). Türkiye started with Olcay Çakır Turgut, Sevgi Uzun, Gökşen Fitik, Beren Burke, and Esra Ural Topuz.
In the first quarter, Japan primarily scored through mid-range shots, while Türkiye attempted to exploit the paint and three-pointers. The opening ten minutes ended with Japan leading 20-16. In the second quarter, Türkiye closed the gap by focusing on inside play and tied the score at 20-20 in the 12th minute with a basket by Alperi Onar. Immediately after, Japan responded with three consecutive three-pointers to regain control and extended their lead to 11 points (41-30) by the 19th minute, thanks to a three-pointer by Mai Yamamoto. The teams went to halftime with Japan leading 41-35.
A Milli Kadın Basketbol Takımı-FIBA 2026 Dünya Kupası Elemeleri Türkiye-Japonya maçı (AA)
Türkiye began the third quarter strongly, going on an 11-0 run capped by a basket from Beren Burke in the 23rd minute to take a 46-41 lead. Japan answered with a 9-0 run of their own, sparked by a three-pointer from Takada in the 25th minute, bringing the score to 50-46. Towards the end of the quarter, Türkiye regained the lead with a 6-0 run initiated by a three-pointer from Sevgi Uzun and entered the final quarter ahead 55-54 after a three-point shot by Alperi Onar.
In the final quarter, supported by their home crowd, Türkiye extended their lead with another 6-0 run in the 33rd minute, triggered by a basket from Alperi Onar, making the score 61-54. Although Japan reduced the deficit to two points by scoring inside the paint for the remainder of the game, Türkiye ultimately won 75-67.
Milli oyuncu Kennedy Burke (22) (AA)
Beren Burke, who scored 25 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and recorded 1 assist for Türkiye, was named Player of the Match. Other contributors for Türkiye included Sevgi Uzun (17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist), Ayşe Cora Yamaner (7 points), Alperi Onar (7 points), Esra Ural Topuz (6 points), and Derin Erdoğan (2 points). Elif Bayram, Zeynep Gül, Sinem Ataş, and Melek Uzunoğlu also featured on the roster, either as substitutes or bench players.
For Japan, Mai Yamamoto led the team with 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. Other scorers included Miyazawa (11 points), Takada (9), Tokashiki (7), Tanaka (6), Machida (5), Hirashita (5), Mawuli (3), and Todo (3). The Japanese roster also included Konno, Asahina, and Yabu.
Following the match, Türkiye Head Coach Andrea Mazzon stated that the team successfully neutralized Japan’s fast-paced offense. He highlighted Japan’s reliance on three-point shooting and noted that adjustments made during halftime addressed key weaknesses in the team’s performance. Mazzon also emphasized the critical role played by Elif Bayram’s steal in the final moments, which proved decisive in securing the victory.
A Milli Kadın Basketbol Takımı-FIBA 2026 Dünya Kupası Elemeleri Türkiye-Japonya maçı (AA)
National team player Ayşe Cora Yamaner stated that the team displayed a controlled, aggressive, and disciplined performance against Japan from start to finish. She noted that after their previous loss to Argentina, the players focused intensely on this match. Yamaner also mentioned that defeats suffered in preparatory matches in 2022 have served as motivational factors within the team.
The match held at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul ended with Türkiye defeating their opponent 75-67, securing their second win in the tournament.
The qualification tournaments to determine the 11 teams that will participate in the FIBA Women’s World Cup 2026 were organized in Wuhan, China; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Villeurbanne, France; and Istanbul, Türkiye. The C Group hosted in Istanbul included the national teams of Türkiye, Japan, Hungary, Australia, Canada, and Argentina. According to the tournament format, the top three teams in each group would qualify directly for the World Cup.
This match marked the 10th time the women’s national basketball teams of Türkiye and Japan have faced each other. Their first encounter took place on 23 July 2004 during a preparatory tournament in Spain, where Japan won 90-80. Türkiye recorded a 65-49 victory over Japan on 26 June 2012 during the London Olympic Qualifiers in Ankara. The most recent meeting between the two teams prior to this match was a preparatory game held in Japan on 19 June 2022.
A Milli Kadın Basketbol Takımı-FIBA 2026 Dünya Kupası Elemeleri Türkiye-Japonya maçı (AA)
The game was officiated by the referee trio of Julio Anaya (Panama), Kyoungjin Park (South Korea), and Nicolas Zivieri (Brazil). Türkiye started with Olcay Çakır Turgut, Sevgi Uzun, Gökşen Fitik, Beren Burke, and Esra Ural Topuz in the starting lineup.
In the first quarter, Japan primarily scored through mid-range shots, while Türkiye attempted to exploit the paint and three-pointers. The first ten minutes ended with Japan leading 20-16. In the second quarter, Türkiye closed the gap by focusing on the painted area, tying the score at 20-20 in the 12th minute with a basket by Alperi Onar. Immediately after, Japan responded with three consecutive three-pointers to regain control; by the 19th minute, Mai Yamamoto’s three-pointer extended their lead to 11 points (41-30), and the teams went into halftime with Japan ahead 41-35.
A Milli Kadın Basketbol Takımı-FIBA 2026 Dünya Kupası Elemeleri Türkiye-Japonya maçı (AA)
Türkiye started the third quarter strongly, going on an 11-0 run capped by a basket from Beren Burke in the 23rd minute to take a 46-41 lead. Japan answered with a 9-0 run of their own, sparked by a three-pointer from Takada in the 25th minute, bringing the score to 50-46. Towards the end of the quarter, Türkiye regained the lead with a 6-0 run initiated by a three-pointer from Sevgi Uzun and entered the final quarter ahead 55-54 after a three-point shot by Alperi Onar.
In the final quarter, supported by their home crowd, Türkiye extended their lead with another 6-0 run in the 33rd minute, triggered by a basket from Alperi Onar, making the score 61-54. Although Japan reduced the deficit to two points by scoring inside the paint for the remainder of the game, Türkiye ultimately won 75-67.
Milli oyuncu Kennedy Burke (22) (AA)
Beren Burke, who scored 25 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and recorded 1 assist for Türkiye, was named Player of the Match. Other contributors for the Turkish team included Sevgi Uzun (17 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist), Ayşe Cora Yamaner (7 points), Alperi Onar (7 points), Esra Ural Topuz (6 points), and Derin Erdoğan (2 points). Elif Bayram, Zeynep Gül, Sinem Ataş, and Melek Uzunoğlu also appeared on the roster, either as substitutes or reserves.
For Japan, Mai Yamamoto led the team with 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists. Other scoring contributions came from Miyazawa (11 points), Takada (9 points), Tokashiki (7 points), Tanaka (6 points), Machida (5 points), Hirashita (5 points), Mawuli (3 points), and Todo (3 points). The Japanese roster also included Konno, Asahina, and Yabu.
Following the match, Türkiye Head Coach Andrea Mazzon stated that the team successfully neutralized Japan’s fast-paced offense. He highlighted Japan’s reliance on three-point shooting and noted that the halftime team meeting helped address tactical shortcomings. Mazzon emphasized that the steal by Elif Bayram in the final moments played a critical role in securing the victory.
A Milli Kadın Basketbol Takımı-FIBA 2026 Dünya Kupası Elemeleri Türkiye-Japonya maçı (AA)
National player Ayşe Cora Yamaner stated that the team played a controlled, aggressive, and disciplined game against Japan from start to finish. She noted that after the previous loss to Argentina, the players focused intensely on this match and that defeats suffered in preparatory games in 2022 had become a motivational factor within the team.
Türkiye Kadın Millî Basketbol Takımı maç programı (AA)
Türkiye Kadın Millî Basketbol Takımı participated in the qualification tournaments with the aim of securing a spot in the Women’s Basketball World Cup, organized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) in Berlin, Germany, from 4 to 13 September 2026. The global qualification tournaments were held between 11 and 17 March 2026, with Türkiye hosting one of the qualifying groups. Finishing third in their group, the Türkiye Women’s Basketball Team earned the right to compete in the 2026 FIBA World Cup.
In accordance with a decision made by the FIBA Central Board in 2022, the number of teams competing in the 2026 Women’s Basketball World Cup has been increased to sixteen. A total of twenty-four teams have been included in the qualification phase. The qualification tournaments are being held in Wuhan, China (Group A), San Juan, Puerto Rico (Group B), Villeurbanne, France (Group D), and Istanbul, Türkiye (Group C).
FIBA 2026 World Cup Pathway (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)
Türkiye has been placed in Group C alongside Canada, Hungary, Argentina, Australia and Japan.
According to the qualification rules, the top three teams from Groups A, B and C will qualify for the World Cup. However, since Australia, the Asian champion and a participant in Group C, already holds direct qualification rights, the three best-performing teams in Group C excluding Australia will earn tournament spots.
Germany, Belgium, Nigeria, the United States and Australia, who received direct qualification, were also included in the qualification tournaments as per procedure. Additionally, Hungary and the Czech Republic earned their places in this phase by finishing first in the preliminary qualification tournaments held in Rwanda and Mexico in August 2024.
Italian coach Andrea Mazzon serves as head coach of the national team. The roster announced by the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) includes team captain Olcay Çakır Turgut, Alperi Onar, Sevgi Uzun, Sinem Ataş, Derin Erdoğan, Ayşe Cora Yamaner, Elif Bayram, Zeynep Şevval Gül, Melek Uzunoğlu, Esra Ural Topuz and naturalized player Kennedy (Beren) Burke. Head coach Mazzon stated that the twelve players selected were chosen based not on individual strengths but on their compatibility with the team’s playing style.
Technical Staff and Squad of the National Team (TBF)
The team’s preparation period before the qualification matches was extremely tight, and Mazzon noted that the squad had only three training sessions before their opening game. The Italian coach stated that they could not create a miraculous outcome under such time constraints but would give their best on the court through a rational game plan. Mazzon emphasized that Turkish players and fans are intelligent, and that this quality provides a strategic advantage. He stressed that to compete effectively against teams like Japan with unique playing styles and physically strong opponents, the team must play strategic basketball. Mazzon also highlighted that the positive reception in Türkiye has provided him with additional motivation.
Turkcell Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi'nde Düzenlenen Medya Günü (TBF)" image-element-format="right" image-height="551" image-source="https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/03/10/T6rm8RKfTqi5ewYKiTAHcyWpFPohXg1F.png" image-width="878">
Team captain Olcay Çakır Turgut expressed that she has long aspired to participate in major tournaments such as the World Cup and the Olympics and noted that the team’s motivation is extremely high. Turgut stated that the team will face opponents with diverse playing styles in the qualifiers and that the 19-player extended roster has been prepared to adapt to any game structure. She added that the newly naturalized player Kennedy (Beren) Burke, with her high energy and enthusiastic attitude, will easily integrate into the national team’s fast-paced basketball philosophy.
Sevgi Uzun, the 28-year-old player standing 1.70 meters tall, elaborated on the significance of wearing the national jersey for an athlete. Uzun stated that the national uniform holds a meaning beyond any club career and possesses an irreplaceable and unique power.
Emphasizing that the priority lies not in individual goals but in showcasing Türkiye’s strength in basketball on the international stage and demonstrating competitive standing against global teams, Uzun stated that these objectives can only be achieved through collective unity. She noted that the experience gained at the previous European Championship has boosted the team’s self-confidence and expressed that wearing the national jersey at the World Cup and the Olympics remains her greatest dream. Uzun underscored the importance of fan support and expressed her belief that the atmosphere in Istanbul will elevate the team’s performance. In addition, she welcomed FIBA’s efforts to promote and develop women’s basketball globally and expressed hope that such initiatives will continue to expand.
Bahar Çağlar Ökten, Member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Basketball Federation, stated that since the European Championship, the team’s primary objective has been to qualify for the World Cup and affirmed full confidence in the team’s energy despite the challenging opponents in their group. General Manager Aslı İnceer emphasized that although the team faces a demanding fixture, they remain unwavering in their goal to qualify for the World Cup. Administrative officials and players highlighted that the home advantage and fan support in Istanbul will play a critical role in the matches.
Türkiye will open Group C play against Canada at the Turkcell Basketball Development Center in Istanbul. The match, scheduled for 20:30 on 11 March 2026, will mark the first official meeting between the two teams since their last encounter at the 2014 World Championship hosted by Türkiye. In that group stage match held in Ankara, Türkiye defeated their opponent 55-44 and finished fourth in the tournament, their best result in their debut appearance at the prestigious event. On the same day, other Group C matches will feature Argentina versus Australia at 14:30 and Japan versus Hungary at 17:30.
The Türkiye women's national basketball team participated in the qualification tournament organized in Istanbul from 11 to 17 March 2026 to secure a spot in the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup to be hosted by Germany. Under head coach Andrea Mazzon the national team has been placed in Group C alongside Canada Hungary Argentina Australia and Japan. The team’s first match in this campaign is scheduled for 11 March 2026 against Canada.
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March 10, 2026
Tournament Format and Qualification System
March 10, 2026
National Team Coaching Staff and Roster
March 10, 2026
Coach and Player Assessments
March 10, 2026
Administrative Staff Views and Match Schedule
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First Match: Türkiye 71-69 Canada
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Second Match: Türkiye 55-59 Argentina
March 16, 2026
Third Match
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Third Match: Türkiye 75-67 Japan
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Tournament Format and Qualification System
March 18, 2026
Technical Staff and Squad of the National Team
March 18, 2026
Assessments by the Head Coach and Players
March 18, 2026
Administrative Staff Views and Match Schedule