Zandalasini leads Italy into World Cup after 32-year absence

Tournament opens Sept. 4 in Berlin

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 261 min read

Cecilia Zandalasini at the heart of Italy’s return on the world stage 🌐🇮🇹 The #FIBAWWC begins September 4 📍 🎟️ https:/ Via @FIBAWWC on X

What happened: Cecilia Zandalasini scored 22 points in the 68-56 qualifying win over Spain that secured Italy’s place. She earned selection to the San Juan tournament’s best five.

Why it matters: Italy is returning to the competition for the first time since 1994. The tournament runs through Sept. 13.

By the numbers: Zandalasini averaged 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists across five qualifiers. Italy went 4-1, beating Puerto Rico, New Zealand, Spain and Senegal.

What to watch: Zandalasini is scheduled to join preparations in Rome on Aug. 29.

Sources

@FIBAWWC 2026-08-26T15:21:02.575831+00:00

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