Japan Women’s Basketball Team Gears Up for FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament
Published: March 8, 2026 | 247sports.news
Key Players and Staff Announced
The Japan Basketball Association (JBA) has announced the 12-member roster for the Japan Women’s National Team, set to compete in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament beginning Wednesday, March 11th in Istanbul, Turkey. Yuki Miyazawa will serve as team captain.
Team Staff
- Team Director: Hiroshi Oguri
- Head Coach: Corey Gaines
- Assistant Coach: Tomomi Miyata
- Analyzing Coach: Kyoko Ito
- Interpreter: Kai Shimojo
- Sports Performance Coach: Tomohiro Usui
- Athletic Trainer: Mayumi Ogino
- Athletic Trainer: Yoshiko Miyaguchi
- Team Manager: Satsuki Furumi
- Team Manager: Kaori Komatsu
- Technical Staff: Saki Ariga
- Dr.: Takayuki Komatsu
- Team PR: Mari Matsumoto
Roster Breakdown
The team boasts an average height of 178.0cm and an average age of 27.1 years as of March 8, 2026.
| # | Name | Position | Height (cm) | Age | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Norika Konno | SG | 179 | 25 | Denso Iris |
| 3 | Stephanie | SF | 182 | 27 | CASADEMONT ZARAGOZA |
| 8 | Maki Takada | C | 185 | 36 | Denso Iris |
| 10 | Tokashiki Raimu | C | 193 | 34 | Aisin Wings |
| 13 | Rui Machida | PG | 162 | 33 | Fujitsu Red Wave |
| 14 | Azusa Asahina | PF | 185 | 22 | University of Tsukuba / Toyota Boshoku Sunshine Rabbits |
| 23 | Mai Yamamoto | PG | 163 | 26 | Toyota Antelopes |
| 26 | Kokoro Tanaka | PG | 173 | 20 | ENEOS Sunflowers |
| 31 | Aika Hirashita | SF | 178 | 24 | Toyota Motor Antelopes |
| 37 | Minami Yabu | SG | 178 | 21 | Denso Iris |
| 52 | Yuki Miyazawa | PF | 183 | 32 | Fujitsu Red Wave |
| 75 | Nanako Todo | SG | 175 | 25 | Toyota Boshoku Sunshine Rabbits |
Tournament Details
The FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 Qualifying Tournament will feature 24 teams competing across four host cities: Istanbul, Turkey; Lyon, France; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Wuhan, China.
Japan’s Schedule (Japan Time)
- March 11th (Wednesday) vs Hungary: 23:30 TIPOFF
- March 12th (Thursday) vs Australia: 20:30 TIPOFF
- March 14th (Saturday) vs Türkiye: 26:30 TIPOFF
- March 15th (Sunday) vs Canada: 23:30 TIPOFF
- March 17th (Tuesday) vs Argentina: 20:30 TIPOFF
Broadcast Information
Select games will be broadcast on CS Fuji TV NEXT, FOD, Fuji TV Terrestrial, and DAZN. Specific broadcast times are listed above.
Qualifying Format and Past Results
The tournament employs a round-robin league format with the top four teams from each city qualifying for the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. Continental cup winners and host nations are automatically qualified, regardless of tournament results.
Japan previously earned a spot in the 2022 tournament, finishing in 2nd place.
2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Overview
The 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup will be held in Berlin, Germany from September 4th to 13th, featuring 16 teams.
Japan has appeared in 14 total FIBA World Cup tournaments, with their best finish being 9th place in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the Qualifying Tournament?
The tournament determines which teams will advance to the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup. - Where is the tournament being held?
The tournament is being held across four cities: Istanbul, Turkey; Lyon, France; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Wuhan, China. - Who is the captain of the Japan Women’s National Team?
Yuki Miyazawa is the captain of the team.
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