Germany lose bronze game to Spain, finish fourth at women's World Cup

Germany, the host nation, reached the semifinals of the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, played in Berlin, and went into the third-place game on 13 September with a chance to win a medal.

Spain, who had also lost in the semifinals, won the bronze-medal game and left Germany in fourth place. The United States won the title that same day, beating France in the final, so the podium was made up of the United States, France and Spain.

The fourth place was reported as Germany's best-ever result at a women's World Cup. The run mattered because it came in front of home crowds and was seen as a breakthrough for women's basketball in the country, even though the team missed out on a medal.

The tournament later became part of the story of the German squad's individual efforts, including those of forward Leonie Fiebich, who is now reported to have played through the event with a broken foot.