FIBA Women Leaders' Program Supported by Molten is Set to Start
A new program, the FIBA Women Leaders’ Program, is set to launch. The initiative, supported by Molten, a major sports equipment company based in Japan, will bring together 10 women leaders from around the world. They’ve been selected for their “innovative projects that use basketball as a platform for social impact and community development,” per a FIBA press release.
The goal, which falls in line with FIBA’s Women in Basketball strategy, is to help increase the participation of girls in basketball to develop into future leaders.
FIBA says that the “selected participants cover a diverse range of topics,” such as “media storytelling initiatives, grassroots tournaments, leadership hubs, mentorship programs, and community development platforms designed to strengthen opportunities for girls and women in basketball.”
The program began at the end of March 2026. It will include a series of monthly leadership webinars with the goal of “strengthening the development of their projects and broadening their leadership capabilities.”
The program will run through August and culminate with the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 in Berlin, Germany. The participants will present their initiatives to a global audience.
The Women’s Basketball World Cup begins on Friday, September 4, with Group Play.
Molten Executive Provides Comment
Not only that, but there’s a competition for a $10,000 USD Molten Development Grant to help further develop and scale the projects.
Molten has been a global FIBA partner for more than 40 years.
“At Molten, we believe that the true value of sport lies in the power of emotion - the passion, the resilience, and the connections built on and off the court,” said Molten’s Head of Brand Marketing, Noa Hasegawa.
"Through our support of the FIBA Women Leaders Program, we are committed to ensuring that these emotions are accessible to everyone, not just as players, but as the visionary leaders who sustain the game.
"By empowering these talented women across Oceania, Europe, and beyond, we are not only addressing the challenge of dropout rates but are actively building a diverse infrastructure for the future.
"As we look toward the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026, our goal is to create an impact that resonates far beyond the final buzzer. We want to inspire a new generation to stay in the game and lead it, ensuring that the 'emotion' of basketball continues to thrive for years to come,” Hasegawa added.
FIBA also stated that this is being launched as a pilot program, to grow it into “a regular Women in Basketball leadership initiative that supports women leaders making an impact in basketball communities worldwide.”
Women’s Basketball World Cup Preview
As mentioned, the Group Phase begins on September 4.
Here are the four groups:
- Group A: Japan, Spain, Germany, Mali
- Group B: Hungary, Korea, Nigeria, France
- Group C: Belgium, Australia, Puerto Rico, Turkey
- Group D: United States, Czechia, Italy, China
The World Cup will run until September 13, with games hosted at one of two venues: Berlin Arena and Max-Schmeling-Halle. Both are located in Berlin, Germany.
This is the first time Germany has hosted the event since 1998.
