The FIBA Women Leaders’ Program, supported by Molten, has brought together ten inspiring women leaders from across the global FIBA regions in Berlin (10-13 September), culminating in the opportunity to turn months of leadership development, mentoring and project work into tangible outcomes for girls, women and communities through basketball.

‘Class of 2026’ - women’s basketball showcase

Held alongside the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 finale in Berlin (4-13 September), which this year featured an expanded field of 16 national teams, the FIBA Women Leaders’ Program programme has focused on strengthening women's leadership and participation in basketball.

The four-day programme opened on 10 September with a project preparation session designed to challenge participants to strengthen their proposals ahead of the final presentations.

Participants then attended the quarter-finals of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, providing an opportunity to connect with FIBA representatives and experience the global stage on which women’s basketball is continuing to grow.

On 11 September, the participants joined the Women Lead in Basketball Forum, bringing together influential figures from sport, business, media and culture to examine the future of women’s sport - including its long-term value, the influence of women as fans and consumers, the transition from momentum to mainstream impact and the changing media landscape surrounding women’s basketball. The programme also featured dedicated sessions examining coaching environments for girls and the role of women in leadership.

Molten Development Grant - project winner takes centre stage

The main competitive element of the FIBA Women Leaders’ Program took place on 12 September, when each participant presented their project to a judging panel featuring representatives from FIBA, Molten and invited industry experts.

The projects demonstrated how basketball can be used as a platform for leadership, participation, development and social impact - with each participant then benefiting from highly valuable one-to-one sessions with FIBA and Molten post-presentation.

The FIBA Women Leaders’ Program attendees then took a behind-the-scenes tour of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup venue, giving further insight into competition operations, broadcasting, venue management, commercial activity and fan engagement.

Brilliance in Berlin

“The FIBA Women Leaders’ Program in Berlin has delivered several important outcomes, including the recognition of highly innovative projects led by women using basketball to create positive change,” explained Noa Hasegawa, Head of Brand Marketing at Molten Corporation, the official FIBA game-ball partner since 1982.

“Building on our long-standing relationship with FIBA, it has been an absolute pleasure for Molten to support this year’s winning FIBA Women Leaders’ Program initiative through the new Molten Development Grant.

“On top of this, seeing first-hand the value of new connections being made between women leaders from different FIBA regions - and the power of facilitating greater access to mentors, experts and decision-makers within the basketball and sports industries - has been incredibly inspiring.

“The FIBA Women Leaders’ Program gathering has highlighted the importance of building a lasting international community of women leaders who can use basketball to create meaningful change on and off the court and influence the next generation.”