International basketball has always carried huge moments. The talent is elite. The passion is undeniable. Yet for many American fans, it has often felt just outside the spotlight.
That may be about to change.
TNT Sports has secured exclusive U.S. English language rights to FIBA’s biggest men’s and women’s tournaments. The multiyear deal includes the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2026, the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027, and EuroBasket in 2029. It begins this month with the Women’s World Cup qualifying tournament in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Team USA is expected to feature Olympic gold medalists Kahleah Copper, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young. A new generation of stars like Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and Angel Reese are also expected to make their senior national team competitive debuts.
And that is where the moment gets interesting.
International basketball has always been about more than standings and medals. It is about representing something bigger than yourself. When players step on the court with their country across their chest, the game carries a different weight.
This partnership could bring those moments closer to American audiences. With games airing across TNT, truTV, and HBO Max, global basketball will live on platforms fans already watch.
For years, international tournaments were something many fans only paid attention to during the Olympics. Now the stories, the rivalries, and the rising stars may finally get a bigger stage.
Because when the world’s best players come together, the game becomes something bigger than a single league.
It becomes about the people behind the moment.
