FIBA reveals improved World Ranking system for women ahead of World Cup Qualifying Tournaments

    4 min to read
    Press Release

    FIBA has unveiled a new and improved version of the FIBA World Ranking Women, offering a clearer and more modern approach to ranking national teams.

    MIES (Switzerland) - Following the introduction of the new FIBA World Ranking Men system in November 2025, FIBA is now rolling out its adapted methodology for the FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike.

    The model is guided by three main objectives: to be simpler, more reflective of recent results, and more rewarding for teams that advance far in competitions.

    How it works

    As it's the case for the Men's ranking, national teams earn points for every game played - they never lose points. Both teams receive base points for the game, with the winning team earning additional bonus points from various sources.

    Later-stage tournament games award more points.

    Points awarded vary by competition or Region.

    For more details on the principles of the improved FIBA World Ranking system, please read this piece:

    FIBA reveals improved World Ranking system for men ahead of World Cup 2027 Qualifiers tip off

    The Ranking Women's system is built on the same principles as the improved system currently in place for the Men's ranking, while incorporating key adjustments to reflect the structure of the women’s competition calendar.

    Main adjustments compared to the Men's system:

    Updated discounting model: 25% applied annually

    The calendar features major women's events (World Cup, Olympics, Continental Cups) every year, so the system's discounting model has been adapted accordingly:

    • A 25% discount is applied before each major event.

    • This ensures the ranking remains responsive to recent performance while respecting the annual event cycle.

    Maximum of two updates per year

    The Women's Continental Cup qualification structure varies across regions, with differing schedules and formats. The new system has been designed to remain fair to all national federations while maintaining overall stability.

    • One update occurs after the main annual event.

    • A second update takes place in March, capturing games played since the previous major update.

    This improved system will be implemented for the upcoming Women's World Cup Qualifying Tournaments, and the updated Women's World Ranking, released after the events, will determine the seedings for the Women's World Cup draw scheduled for April 21.

    For more information about the methodology used in calculating the FIBA World Ranking Women, please visit the "How It Works" and "FAQ" sections, as well as detailed examples.

    The rollout of the new FIBA World Ranking Men and Women, presented by Nike will be followed by updates to the FIBA World Ranking Boys and Girls systems, based on the same methodology.

    Click here to view the current FIBA World Ranking Women, presented by Nike.

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