WATCH THE OPALS WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN

UC Capitals Head Coach Paul Goriss has joined the Australian Opals coaching staff in Berlin as an Assistant Coach for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026.

The tournament tips off in Germany from 4–13 September, with Goriss helping guide the Opals as they take on the world’s best.

Australia’s roster features plenty of familiar faces to WNBL including Jade Melbourne, Zitina Aokuso, Isobel Borlase, Steph Reid, Miela Sowah, Steph Talbot, Alex Wilson, Chloe Bibby, Isabelle Bourne, Alex Fowler, Ezi Magbegor and Alanna Smith.

SCHEDULE

All games are listed in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST):

• Australia vs Puerto Rico - 4 September, 7:30pm AEST
• Turkey vs Australia - 6 September, 7:30pm AEST
• Belgium vs Australia - 7 September, 7:30pm AEST

The group winners will progress directly to the quarter-finals on 10 September, while the second- and third-placed teams will compete in a qualification round on 8 and 9 September. The World Cup final will be played on 13 September.

WATCH THE OPALS

Basketball fans can catch every game of the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup, live and exclusive on ESPN on Disney+, from 4–13 September AEST.

For the UC Capitals, the tournament is another opportunity to see Goriss working alongside the best in the world — before he returns to Canberra to lead the Caps into the 2026/27 WNBL season.

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