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Andrea Mazzon, head coach of the Türkiye women's national basketball team, said the squad should set ambitious targets for the FIBA 2026 Women's Basketball World Cup, adding that the team can compete with every opponent except the United States.
The Italian coach, who leads the national team into the tournament being held in Berlin, Germany, from Sept. 4 to 13, addressed preparation, group rivals, tournament goals and the significance of returning to the World Cup in an interview with an AA correspondent.
Mazzon expressed satisfaction with the conditions provided by the Turkish Basketball Federation, citing access to facilities and support for the team's needs.
He also noted the squad avoided injury problems during the preparation period, describing the players as being in good condition and focused on a shared goal heading into the tournament.
Mazzon said the team must aim high at the 2026 World Cup, pointing to the importance of securing at least one win in the group stage before advancing to cross-bracket matchups, similar to European tournaments.
'"I think we should dream big. At the World Cup, just as in European tournaments, which team you are paired with from the other group in the later stages matters a great deal," Mazzon said. "But first we need to win at least one match in the group. That is our first and most important goal."
He said facing the United States in a cross-bracket matchup would be a difficult test, calling the American team exceptionally strong and noting it will field some of the world's best players. Mazzon said he could not yet predict results against other teams but expressed confidence in the squad's ability to compete with any opponent besides the United States.
Türkiye was drawn into Group C alongside Belgium, Australia and Puerto Rico. Mazzon described Belgium as one of the most successful European teams in recent years, noting the team has won nearly every tournament it has entered.
He also pointed to Australia's bronze medal finish at the 2024 Olympic Games and noted uncertainty around Puerto Rico's roster, which often includes American and foreign-born players. Mazzon referenced Türkiye's qualification run, which included wins over Canada and Japan and a close contest against Australia, as evidence the team can compete with squads that reached the Olympics.
Mazzon said Türkiye's return to the Women's World Cup after an eight-year absence means a lot to him personally, adding that coaching another country's national team increases his sense of responsibility.
He said leading the national team is a source of pride but also requires greater effort, given the responsibility of representing people who trust the coaching staff.
Mazzon said defensive performance will be decisive at the World Cup, pointing to the team's play during March's qualification matches as the right reference point.
He said offensive output can vary from game to game, but maintaining defensive concentration and discipline would be the deciding factor in advancing past the group stage, provided the team also develops its transition offense following stops.
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