South Korea’s women’s national basketball team has earned a spot in the 17th FIBA Women’s World Cup after a dominant 105-74 victory over the Philippines in the final qualifying round.
Decisive Win in Bilbao Secures Advancement
The match unfolded on the 15th in Bilbao, Spain, during Group D of the top qualifiers. Ranked 15th by FIBA, South Korea overwhelmed the 39th-ranked Philippines, showcasing superior shooting and defense.
Kang Isul starred with 24 points, sinking 8 of 18 three-pointers. Teammates Choi Isam added 15 points and 5 rebounds, Lee Haeran contributed 15 points, Park Ji-hyun tallied 11 points and 9 rebounds, and Park Ji-su recorded 10 points with 9 rebounds.
Group Stage Results
South Korea finished with a strong 3-1 record in the group. The team suffered its only loss to 12th-ranked Germany (49-76) but rebounded with convincing wins: 77-60 over eighth-ranked Ireland and 82-52 against 19th-ranked Colombia.
This performance guaranteed qualification without relying on the outcome of France’s (FIBA No. 3) final group game.
Path to the 2026 World Cup
The qualifiers featured 24 teams across four groups, with hosts in China (Group A), Puerto Rico (Group B), Istanbul (Group C), and France (Group D). A total of 16 teams will compete in the 2026 tournament.
Automatic berths went to top nations including the United States (FIBA No. 1, 2025 Americas Cup champions), Australia (No. 2, 2025 Asia Cup winners), Belgium (No. 5, 2025 EuroBasket champions), Germany, and Nigeria (2025 AfroBasket champions).
In Group D, South Korea eliminated contenders alongside France, Colombia, and the Philippines, claiming one of the precious tickets.
