Top Non-USA Performers of the FIBA Women’s World Cup
The FIBA Women’s World Cup has hit the business end, and while Team USA marches on with its usual star power, the real intrigue is everywhere else. Six nations are already through to the quarterfinals — USA, Hungary, France, Belgium, Spain, and Germany — and a handful of non-American standouts are dragging their countries forward or, in some cases, leaving a lasting mark even in defeat.
Here’s a look at the top non-USA performers so far, based strictly on what they’ve done on the floor.
1. Emma Meesseman, Belgium
The tournament’s metronome.
Emma Meesseman arrived as a former WNBA Finals MVP and has played like someone intent on adding another major international chapter to her résumé. She’s averaging 18.3 points on 50% shooting, with 8 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game — the kind of all-court production that bends an entire game plan around her.
Belgium went 3-0 in Group Play, and it wasn’t a soft schedule. Their statement came against a loaded Australian side, where Meesseman’s composure and decision-making under pressure underlined why she’s still one of the smartest players in the global game. Everything Belgium does flows through her hands. Right now, nobody outside of Team USA is dictating games quite like she is.
2. Gabby Williams, France
France have swagger, and Gabby Williams is the source.
The French star has been relentless on both ends, powering a perfect 3-0 Group Play run. She’s pouring in 18.7 points per game on a blistering 58.8% from the field, including a scorching 55% from three. Add 4.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists, and you’ve got the heartbeat of a contender.
Williams leads the entire World Cup in scoring. She’s not just filling up the box score; she’s setting a tone. France now await the winner of Puerto Rico vs. China in Thursday’s quarterfinal, and Williams’ two-way influence will decide how far this team can really go.
3. Iyana Martin, Spain
A rising star playing like she’s been here for a decade.
Portland Fire guard Iyana Martin has turned Spain’s backcourt into must-watch basketball. At just 20 years old, she’s averaging 17.3 points on elite efficiency: 56.2% from the field and 43.8% from deep, plus 3 assists per game.
Her impact goes beyond the numbers. Martin became the first under-21 player this century to score at least 20 points in back-to-back World Cup games. That kind of history, at this age, in this setting, suggests Spain may have found the player to carry them into their next era.
4. Julie Vanloo, Belgium
If Meesseman is the engine, Julie Vanloo is the spark.
Vanloo has been the perfect backcourt complement to Belgium’s star forward, averaging 16.3 points while shooting 51.4% from the field and 44.8% from three. She’s also dishing 4 assists a night, keeping Belgium’s offense humming and punishing defenses that overcommit to Meesseman.
Belgium’s 3-0 Group Play record owes as much to Vanloo’s fearless shot-making as it does to their veteran core. When she gets rolling from outside, Belgium suddenly look like a team that can trouble anyone left in the draw.
5. Marine Johannes, France
Every tournament needs a show-stealer. For France, that’s Marine Johannes.
The New York Liberty guard has stepped into a key scoring role, averaging 17 points per game while hitting a staggering 52% from three. Those aren’t just open looks, either — Johannes thrives on tough, off-balance shots that rip momentum away from opponents.
She’s one of France’s more seasoned voices, and her experience in big moments is obvious. When defenses load up on Williams, Johannes stretches the floor and punishes any hesitation. If France are serious about a gold-medal run, her shooting will be central to it.
6. Ezi Magbegor, Australia
Australia’s hopes rest squarely on Ezi Magbegor’s shoulders now.
The national team captain and Seattle Storm standout has been their leading scorer, averaging 15.7 points on 59.5% shooting. She’s also hitting 42.9% from three and grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game, anchoring both ends for the Opals.
With Alanna Smith ruled out of the tournament due to a lower-leg injury, Magbegor’s role only grows. She’s already carrying the scoring load; now she must be the emotional anchor too. If Australia are to recover from their setback against Belgium and make a deep run, it will be Magbegor dragging them there.
7. Dorka Juhász, Hungary
Different jersey, different player.
Dorka Juhász has endured an uneven season with the Minnesota Lynx, but for Hungary she’s been dominant. Through four games, the 26-year-old is averaging 15.3 points on 50% shooting, along with a massive 11 rebounds per game.
Those numbers have real consequence: Hungary have punched their ticket to the quarterfinals, a significant achievement built on Juhász’s interior presence. She’s controlling the glass, finishing efficiently, and giving Hungary a platform to punch above their perceived weight.
8. Xu Han, China
China’s tower in the middle is doing everything she can to keep their campaign alive.
New York Liberty center Xu Han is averaging 17.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. She’s shooting 52% from the field and an eye-catching 54.5% from three, a terrifying combination for opposing bigs who have to chase her out to the perimeter and still battle her on the boards.
China face a do-or-die clash with Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning. Win, and they move on to face France in the quarterfinals. If they get there, it will almost certainly be because Xu imposed herself at both ends.
9. Sevgi Uzun, Turkey
A playmaker shining in a losing cause.
Turkey went 0-3 and exited early, but Sevgi Uzun refused to fade with them. The former WNBA guard led the entire World Cup in assists, averaging 8.3 per game, while also scoring 17.7 points a night.
She shot 53% from the field and 45% from three, numbers that speak to a guard in complete control of her offense. Turkey’s campaign ends in disappointment, yet Uzun’s individual display will not be forgotten quickly.
10. Djeneba N’Diaye, Mali
A short stay. A long memory.
Mali are out, but they leave with one of the tournament’s great upsets: an 82-73 win over Spain, only their second-ever World Cup victory and their first since an overtime triumph back in 2010.
Djeneba N’Diaye sat at the heart of it all. She averaged 17 points on 50% shooting across three games, hitting 45% from three, and poured in 19 points in that landmark win over Spain. For a program still fighting for respect on the global stage, N’Diaye’s performance gives Mali something tangible to build on.
Team USA’s star-studded roster will dominate headlines as the knockout rounds begin. But if this World Cup has shown anything, it’s that the game’s balance of power is spreading. From Meesseman’s command to Martin’s fearlessness and Xu Han’s versatility, the chase for a medal is being shaped by a generation of non-American stars refusing to play supporting roles.
