USA cement top spot; seven big risers in latest FIBA World Ranking Girls, presented by Nike

The USA are still dominating the FIBA World Ranking Girls, presented by Nike, with the new edition also seeing big moves for Canada, Slovenia, Japan, Finland, Croatia, Mali and Serbia.

The all-conquering USA consolidated top spot after a perfect 7-0 record at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023 in Madrid. They memorably retained their crown in front of a record-breaking 7,000-strong crowd against hosts Spain, with the event also remembered for the world premiere of the innovative ASB glass floor court.

The USA have now accumulated 830.2 ranking points, a tally also boosted by their triumph at the FIBA U16’s Women’s Americas Championship 2023 where they won a seventh consecutive title.

With 726.2 points, France retain second place having made the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023. They also reached the Final of the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship in Konya Turkiye, while they were crowned champions at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2023 in Izmir, Turkiye.

Canada can now celebrate a top three position with 721.1 points after moving up two places – thanks mainly to their impressive third place at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023. That was also supplemented by making the title game in Yucatan, Mexico at the FIBA U16 Women’s Americas Championship 2023.

After Spain in 4th (717.9) and Australia in 5th (699.2), there’s a new high for Slovenia who jump up an eye-catching four places to 6th spot on 685.6 ranking points. That significant improvement was mainly based on their stunning title-winning campaign at the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2023.

Hungary occupy 7th (669.9) and Belgium 8th (655.9) while the top 12 places are rounded out by four nations in a row who have all stepped up in a big way.

Japan have jumped four berths into 9th after increasing their total to 629.2 points, having sealed a top six finish at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2023 where they excelled with their three-point shooting. They also signed off as runners-up at the FIBA U16 Women’s Asian Championship 2023.

Meanwhile, Finland are making strong vertical moves and can proudly boast a top ten position on 608.9 points. That comes after advancing six places skywards, helped by stepping into the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2023.

The improvement of seven places for Croatia in 11th on 597.1 points is also very impressive after taking fifth place at the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2023.

As was an even bigger leap of eight spots for Mali into 12th on 592.4 ranking points. They were fifth at the FIBA U19 Women’s Basketball World Cup and won a stellar eighth straight FIBA U16 Women’s African Championship title.

Elsewhere, the most breathtaking advance in the Top 40 nations was claimed by Serbia as they moved up an outstanding 20 places into 16th with 567.4 points. That was due to them reaching the Semi-Finals of the FIBA U18 Women’s European Championship 2023 and the Quarter-Finals of the FIBA U16 Women’s European Championship 2023.

The Competition and Region weights for Girls were adjusted during this latest update to reflect the Women’s weights having also been updated during 2023.

For more information about the method used in the calculation of the FIBA World Ranking Youth Women, please refer to the ‘How it works’ section.