WBL Americas 2026 groups and Santiago schedule announced

FIBA’s Regional Office in the Americas has announced the six-team field and competition schedule for the 2026 Women’s Basketball League Americas, according to reporting published by fiba.basketball. The tournament will be held from September 29 through October 4 at Centro Deportivo Ismenia Pauchard Demier in Santiago, Chile.

The third edition will bring together clubs from Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, the United States and Brazil. The teams have been divided into two groups of three, with each side scheduled to meet both of its group opponents once.

Two groups, one round of games

CDC Leones, Ferro and Defensor Sporting form the first group. CDC Leones represents Chile, Ferro comes from Argentina and Defensor Sporting is based in Uruguay.

The second group contains Sportiva Italiana of Chile, Bay Area Phoenix of the United States and SESI Araraquara of Brazil.

The opening phase runs from September 29 to October 1. Two games will be played on each of those days, giving every team two opportunities to establish its position in the standings before the knockout rounds begin.

The tournament schedule starts with SESI Araraquara facing Sportiva Italiana at 17:00, followed by Defensor Sporting against CDC Leones at 20:00. On the second group-stage day, Bay Area Phoenix will play SESI Araraquara at 17:00, while Ferro will meet Defensor Sporting at 20:00.

The final day of group competition will see Sportiva Italiana play Bay Area Phoenix at 17:00. CDC Leones and Ferro will then close the opening phase at 20:00.

Route to the championship game

The group winners will receive the most direct route into the final four. Each first-place team advances automatically to the semi-finals, avoiding the quarter-final round.

The teams finishing second and third will have to take part in cross-group quarter-finals on October 2. The second-place team from Group B will face the third-place team from Group A, while the second-place team from Group A will meet the third-place team from Group B.

Those two quarter-final winners will join the group winners in the semi-finals on October 3. Each winner will face one of the teams that topped its group, with the successful sides moving on to the championship game.

The teams defeated in the quarter-finals will not leave the tournament immediately. They will meet in a game for fifth place, giving all six participants a final ranking opportunity beyond the group stage.

Final day in Santiago

The closing day, October 4, will contain three games rather than the two-game daily programme used earlier in the competition. The fifth-place game is scheduled for 14:00, followed by the third-place game at 17:00. The tournament will conclude with the gold medal game at 20:00.

The semi-final losers will contest the third-place game, while the two semi-final winners will compete for the title. This structure means that every team is guaranteed at least three games: two in its group and one placement or knockout game afterward.

For the leading teams, group performance will determine whether they go directly into the semi-finals or must first negotiate a quarter-final. The format also creates cross-group matchups in the first elimination round, rather than pairing teams against opponents from their own opening group.

With all games scheduled at the Santiago venue, the six-day event will progress from the initial round-robin meetings to quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final without changing location. FIBA’s announcement provides the group composition, dates and start times for the tournament’s third edition.