How to Watch the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in the US

Team USA’s long wait is over. Four years since their last World Cup crown, the defending champions head to Berlin with the target on their backs and the rest of the world closing in. For fans, the challenge is simpler: finding a way to watch every possession.

This is where the viewing battle lines are drawn.

How to watch in the US

In the United States, the tournament will live on both traditional TV and streaming. The biggest clashes – key group games featuring Team USA, marquee matchups involving Team France, and the knockout rounds – will be spread across TNT, truTV, and TBS. That’s the linear backbone, the place casual viewers will stumble across a heavyweight showdown in prime time.

But that’s only part of the story.

To see every tip-off, every underdog, every late-night thriller, you’ll need HBO Max. The platform carries comprehensive live coverage of the entire FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, with live sports available on its Standard and Premium tiers. The Basic with Ads option doesn’t include live sports, so it’s off the table for this tournament.

HBO Max Standard starts at $18.49 a month. There’s also a bigger bundle on the table: an ad-free Disney Plus package with Hulu and HBO Max for $33 a month, aimed at viewers who want far more than just basketball on their menu.

Some fans won’t want to juggle multiple apps and logins. For them, a live TV streaming service that mirrors a traditional cable lineup is the cleaner route. YouTube TV currently stands out. It carries TNT, TBS, and truTV, offers a broad channel selection that feels like a full cable package, and tempts new customers with a free trial.

There’s also a limited-time pricing play. YouTube TV’s main plan, usually $83 a month, is discounted for first-time users, who get $15 off their first five months – $68 a month over that stretch. The sports plan, typically $65 a month, is cut by $20 for the first six months, dropping to $45 a month for half a year. Both plans include TNT, TBS, and truTV, which keeps you locked in for the marquee World Cup fixtures.

Another path is DAZN Courtside 1891, a dedicated FIBA-focused service distinct from a standard DAZN subscription. It will carry tournament coverage in several regions, including the US. Flexible standard plans start at $12 a month, and all upcoming games are laid out on the US DAZN Courtside 1891 landing page, making it easy to track where and when Team USA takes the floor.

Watching from abroad

Outside the US, the picture changes from country to country. Many national broadcasters have snapped up rights to show selected games, often prioritizing their own teams’ fixtures and the later rounds. Local TV guides and broadcaster schedules remain the best first port of call to see what’s available in each region.

DAZN Courtside 1891 steps in again here, offering coverage in multiple countries where local deals allow it. Blackout restrictions do apply, especially in markets where exclusive broadcast agreements are in place, so availability can shift depending on where you’re watching.

That’s where some traveling fans turn to VPNs. A virtual private network can temporarily alter a user’s apparent location, letting apps and websites behave as if they were being accessed from back home. For someone on the road during the World Cup, that can be the difference between seeing the defending champions in real time and settling for highlights.

NordVPN sits near the top of many recommendation lists thanks to its speed, straightforward interface, and a 30-day money-back guarantee for those who decide it doesn’t suit their needs.

There is a hard line, though. VPN use is illegal in certain countries, and using a VPN to get around region-locked streaming restrictions can breach the terms of use of some services. Business Insider does not endorse or condone any illegal use of VPNs.

The stage in Berlin is set. The question now is simple: with a title to defend and challengers circling, who’s going to miss a minute of it?